Well, it can’t get much worse than the last two games, right? If this group doesn’t start winning fast, it could, and according to Eli should, be a fire sale in Chicago.
Game Info
Chicago Bulls (22-26) at Orlando Magic (19-30) – 6:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio)
Projected Starting Lineups
Chicago Bulls
- Ayo Dosunmu
- Zach LaVine
- DeMar DeRozan
- Patrick Williams
- Nikola Vučević
Injury Report: Goran Dragic PROBABLE (illness), Javonte Green OUT (knee), Lonzo Ball OUT (knee)
Orlando Magic
- Markelle Fultz
- Gary Harris
- Franz Wagner
- Paolo Banchero
- Wendell Carter Jr.
Injury Report: Chuma Okeke QUESTIONABLE (knee)
Odds
The Bulls come into tonight as 2.5-point favorites against the Magic at both PointsBet Illinois Sportsbook and FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook. Click on either link to sign up and pick the Bulls to cover (… or pick the opposite …)!
What to Watch For
Feels like we’re getting a tad redundant here, but the compete level for all 48 minutes has to improve. Will Perdue said it best on NBC Sports Chicago’s postgame after the Hornets loss: There has been zero sense of urgency with this group. The Magic are 19-30, but they also beat the Celtics and Pelicans this month and gave the Heat all they could handle last night. An effort like Thursday’s will almost certainly equal another loss.
The second-half offense needs to improve. The Bulls were awful from three in Thursday’s loss, and when the offense dried up late they fell into the same old trap of four players standing around while DeMar played iso ball. Move the ball, move your feet, hit open shots.
Orlando played last night and lost a tough one to Miami 110-105. They should have some tired legs and be a little beat up after a hard-fought game against the Heat. If the Bulls are getting out-hustled and out-worked in the 4th Quarter of this one, that’s a huge problem.
It’s hard not to look back at the Vooch/Wendell Carter swap with this matchup coming up. While still capable of no-show nights offensively, Wendell is averaging 15 & 8 this season, and defensively is what the Bulls are missing down low. If Vooch isn’t traded, he’s very likely on the way out in free agency this summer. So yeah, this one stings.
NEWSLETTER
