Jay Satur - Raptors.com
The Raptors open a lengthy six-game stretch away from Air Canada Centre wrapped around a short holiday break tonight against the Bulls in the Windy City (8 PM ET, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 590 The FAN).
Paul Jones and Sherman Hamilton preview tonight's big matchup from Chicago.
Projected Starting Lineups
Raptors: Kyle Lowry (G), Terrence Ross (F), James Johnson (F), Amir Johnson (F), Jonas Valanciunas (C)
Bulls: Derrick Rose (G), Jimmy Butler (G), Mike Dunleavy (F), Pau Gasol (F), Joakim Noah (C)
Injury/Roster Report
Raptors: Landry Fields - concussion symptoms (game time decision), DeMar DeRozan - torn left adductor longus tendon (out)
Bulls: Doug McDermott - right knee (out), Derrick Rose - flu-like symptoms (probable), Taj Gibson - right ankle (probable)
Three Pointers
Raptors (Game Notes)
- Fresh off taking care of business against six straight Eastern Conference sub-.500 opponents, the competition level is going to ramp up over the next six games, starting tonight in Chicago against the Bulls. To put this into perspective, as of play this morning the cumulative record of the Raptors' last six opponents (Knicks twice) is 45-127 (.262). Their next six opponents are a combined 107-55 (.661) and, not surprisingly, fare even better at home with a 46-19 mark (.708).
- The Raptors pushed their current win streak to six with Sunday's win over the Knicks at Air Canada Centre. The last time the Raptors were playing for a seventh straight win, they also faced the Chicago Bulls on November 13th. That game didn't go so well, as the Raptors allowed Pau Gasol to run wild and a disastrous stretch in the third resulted in a 100-93 defeat at home.
- Oddly enough, each of these teams has a three-game home losing streak against the other. The Raptors have held the Bulls to an average of 84.7 points on their way to three wins in their last three tries at United Center.
Bulls (Game Notes)
- Expect the Bulls to be fairly close to full strength tonight. They've dealt with a rash of injuries, but are exected to have point guard Derrick Rose (flu-like symptoms) and forward Taj Gibson (right ankle) back in the lineup after both missed the last two games.
- Should be a great test for the Raptors outstanding offence against the Bulls vaunted defence tonight. The Bulls are 13-2 when they hold opponents to fewer than 100 points, which they've done in each of their last four games.
- Beware of Bulls starting shooting guard Jimmy Butler tonight, who comes into this one red hot on the heels of two outstanding performances. Butler posted a career-high 35 points, seven assists, five rebounds, four steals and shot .523 (11-21 FG) from the field in a win over the Knicks on Thursday and followed that up with 31 points and 10 rebounds the following night in a victory over the Grizzlies.
Butler stung the Raptors in the first meeting with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists to power Chicago to the road win.