Thanks to last night’s blowout victory, the Bulls’ starters will come into this game with far fresher legs than expected. Can they put that to good use and set the tone early?
Let’s hope so.
Game Info
Chicago Bulls (10-14) at Atlanta Hawks (13-13) – 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago and 670 The Score (Radio)
Projected Starters
Chicago Bulls
1. Alex Caruso 2. Zach LaVine 3. DeMar DeRozan 4. Patrick Williams 5. Nikola Vučević
Injury Report: Javonte Green QUESTIONABLE (knee), Alex Caruso OUT
Atlanta Hawks
1. Trae Young 2. AJ Griffin 3. De’Andre Hunter 4. Trent Forrest 5. Clint Capela
Injury Report: Dejounte Murray OUT (ankle), John Collins OUT (ankle), Onyeka Okongwu QUESTIONABLE (foot)
Odds
The Bulls walk into tonight as +3 underdogs against the Hawks at PointsBet Illinois Sportsbook and +2.5 underdogs at the FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook. Click on either link to sign up and pick the Bulls to cover (… or pick the opposite …)!
What to Watch For …
Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic did what Billy Donovan has been asking them to do in the first quarter against Dallas. The two combined for 21 points on 8-11 shooting to start the game, as their level of energy and execution laid the groundwork for what would be a dominant victory. A similarly aggressive start from the two tonight would be ideal, but it will also be a lot easier said than done with Trae Young and Clint Capela on the opposite side of the ball.
The Bulls can’t fall into the trap of thinking last night righted all their wrongs. They need to look at last night’s game as a legitimate learning experience – one that showed them just how deadly they can be when they lock in on both ends and keep the ball moving. I’ll be looking for this group to play just as unselfishly tonight, especially against a Hawks team that will be without some of their better defenders in Murray and Collins.
Believe it or not, Atlanta takes the second-fewest 3-point attempts per game and hits them at the second-worst rate. Overall, their offense has really struggled to get off the ground this year, and we need to look no further than their 89-point showing against the Knicks a few days back. Having said that, we all know how deadly Trae Young can be from downtown and as a facilitator. We also know how much the Bulls can struggle to guard the pick-and-roll, so tonight could come down to how well they stay on top of the Young-Capela two-man game.
Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.
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