Let’s try this again, shall we? Last week was a brutal one for the Bulls. After a win over San Antonio, the Bulls dropped three straight on the road and did so in a pretty terrible fashion. Three games remain before the All-Star break, still some time to build momentum.
Game Info
Orlando Magic (23-34) at Chicago Bulls (26-30) – 7:00 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: Alex Caruso QUESTIONABLE (foot), Lonzo Ball OUT (knee), Javonte Green OUT (knee)
Orlando Magic:
- Markelle Fultz
- Gary Harris
- Franz Wagner
- Paolo Banchero
- Wendell Carter Jr
Injury Report: R.J. Hampton OUT (team decision)
Odds
The Bulls come into tonight as 4-point favorites against the Magic at PointsBet Illinois Sportsbook and 4.5-point favorites at 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 calling games against bad teams “must-wins” too often, but that’s the case again. After the three-game losing streak, the Bulls are tied for the last spot in the play-in tournament. All the ugly trends that have plagued the Bulls this season were magnified in the loses to Memphis, Brooklyn, and Cleveland. They were awful from beyond the arc, they turned the ball over, and their 4th quarters were brutal. With less than 30 games left, time is running out to fix these issues.
The Bulls are reportedly poking around the buyout market. As K.C. Johnson reported today, the Bulls have been in touch with Patrick Beverley’s camp. Then of course there’s the Russell Westbrook discussion with the latest being Billy Donovan’s interest. Neither of those guys will all of a sudden make the Bulls a contender, but they really can’t hurt at this point. Both of those two players would bring a little more energy and effort to a lineup that desperately needs it.
Orlando isn’t very good, but they’re playing decently as of late. They’re 4-3 in their last 7 games and have wins over the Nuggets and 76ers in that stretch. They’re a young team with some talented pieces that play hard. If the Bulls are asleep at the wheel in the second half again in this one, the Magic can absolutely beat them.
NEWSLETTER
