keys to the game

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The Bulls (40-42) stay on the road for at least one more night to take on the Miami Heat (44-38) in a win or go home battle to decide which team makes the NBA Playoffs as the East’s No. 8 seed. The winner of tonight’s game travels to Milwaukee to meet the No. 1 seeded Bucks on Sunday afternoon to tip-off the Opening Round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

The Bulls qualified for the Play-In Tournament as the East’s 10th seed during the final days of the season. That earned them a ticket to Toronto to take on the Raptors, who were the 9th seed, this past Wednesday.

The game didn’t start well for Chicago, as they fell behind early and trailed by five points after one quarter, 28-23, and 11 at the half, 58-47. Up to that point, the Bulls had shot 2-for-11 (18.2%) from the 3-point arc, while the Raptors hit 8-of-19 (42.2%). Toronto had also outworked Chicago on the backboards, claiming a 25-18 edge on the glass, and an 11-4 mark in second-chance scoring opportunities. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Not a lot changed at the start of the third quarter, other than Toronto went on an 8-0 run to stretch its lead to 19 points after three minutes. But soon thereafter, the ball started to bounce Chicago’s way, albeit slowly. The Bulls were able to shave two points off the Raptors’ halftime lead, trailing by nine, 81-72, going into the final stanza. After the Bulls adjusted their lineup, going small with Derrick Jones Jr. sliding to center, Chicago’s defense began causing havoc, as Toronto started turning the ball over and missing shots they normally make. By this time Zach LaVine had also gone into attack mode, relentlessly driving to the hoop and finishing at the rim with a flurry of acrobatic moves, scoring 17 of Chicago’s 25 points in the period.

The Bulls continued steamrolling in the fourth, outscoring the Raptors 37-24 for the period to pull-off a 109-105 upset. Chicago’s Big 3 of LaVine (39 points), DeMar DeRozan (23 points), and Nikola Vučević (14 points, 13 rebounds) led the charge, along with some pretty awful free throw shooting from the Raptors, who going into the night had shot 78.4% from the line, but this time missed half of their attempts, going 18-for-36 (50%).

The NBA Play-In Tournament doesn’t have a long history, as its only in its third year, but the other day the Miami Heat became the first 7th seed to lose its opening game. Thus, by the end of tonight, Miami could also end up being the first 7th seed to ever miss the playoffs if they lose to the Bulls.

Against Atlanta, Miami’s Jimmy Butler knocked down the first shot of the game, marking the only lead the Heat would hold the rest of the night. The Hawks flat-out dominated the game, leading by as many as 24 at one point. Miami’s leading scorer was veteran guard Kyle Lowry, who delivered 33 points off the bench.

With their victory, Atlanta seized the 7th seed from Miami and automatically qualified for the playoffs, sending them to Boston to meet the No. 2 seeded Celtics over the weekend.

As for tonight, here are a few things fans can keep in mind while watching the Bulls and Heat tangle for the final time this season. Everyone can catch the game on TNT beginning at 6 pm CST.

As mentioned, tonight’s winner punches a ticket to the NBA postseason while the loser starts their summer vacation a little early. The Bulls take the floor this evening feeling confident after beating Toronto and having swept this year’s season series with the Heat, 3-0, for the first time since 2010-11.

In the regular-season opener, DeMar DeRozan scored 28 of his 37 points in the second half to lead the Bulls to a 116-108 victory. Defensively, Chicago was able to cause 19 Miami turnovers and convert them into 17 points.

Just a few days before Christmas, Chicago visited Miami a second time, and gifted the Heat a bag of coal, beating them, 113-103. Once more, Chicago feasted on turnovers, recording 21 points off 13 miscues. The Bulls’ power trio of Nikola Vučević, Zach LaVine and DeRozan all came up big, with Vučević posting 29 points and 12 rebounds, while DeRozan chipped in 24 points and LaVine 21.

In the third and most recent match-up played in Chicago a little less than a month ago, the Bulls came out on top again, 113-99. DeRozan recorded a team-best 24 points and dished 10 assists, as six different Bulls notch double-figures in scoring. Once again Chicago’s hardline defense wreaked havoc, as this time the Bulls picked-up 22 points off 14 Heat fumbles.

Thus, in the truest sense of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” look for Chicago to follow the same path tonight. For the Bulls to win games, they have to hit the floor with a hardnosed attitude and be focused and poised at all times. Defensively, they’re at their best when they embrace physicality, sticking close to their assigned man and never allowing him a chance to find a comfort zone.

THE BUTLER DID IT ... AND CONTINUES DOING SO!

Former Bulls forward, Jimmy Butler, is once again Miami’s leading man, averaging a team-best 22.9 points. As most Bulls fans know, Butler’s competitive nature and never-ending work ethic has made him one of the game’s most respected and highly feared clutch players.

Butler, who played his first six NBA seasons in Chicago, comes in tonight averaging 24.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 46.4% from the field and 85.1% from the free throw line against his former team.

Typically when writing a preview you don’t bring up a player’s free throw shooting, but Jimmy Butler isn’t a normal opponent. In 12 career games against Chicago, he’s attempted 141 free throws, or an average of 11.8 per game. That’s a ridiculously high number, but that’s Jimmy Butler.

Butler’s going to be on the attack all night long and try to make his way to the charity stripe as much as possible. Defensively, Chicago is going to have to come up with a workable plan to keep him away from the paint and far from the rim. Otherwise Butler’s likely going to have a big night, and there’s not a lot anyone can do about it.

Two others Chicago will have to keep close tabs on this evening are former Kentucky Wildcats, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

Like Butler, both Herro (20.1) and Adebayo (20.4) averaged over 20 points per game. Herro is a deadly perimeter sniper, while Adebayo, who was named a 2023 All-Star, likes to set up shop under the basket.

From March 3 through April 7, Herro connected on multiple treys 17 games in a row and hit at least one in 28 straight. For the season, he hit 37.8% from long range, and led the NBA in free throw shooting percentage, connecting on 170-of-182 (93.4%) attempts.

Defensively, Chicago can’t afford to let Herro find open looks from the arc. Some players are dead-eyes only from the corners, but Herro knocks ‘em down all around the bend. Look for Pat Beverley to shadow him all over the floor, while Alex Caruso will likely draw the defensive assignment on Butler.

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Keys to the Game: Bulls at Heat (04.14.23)

The Chicago Bulls (40-42) hit the road to take on the Toronto Raptors (41-41) at Scotiabank Arena in a win or go home contest to decide who will survive at least one more day to meet the Miami Heat on the road Friday for the Eastern Conference’s 8th and final berth to the NBA Playoffs.

Here are a few things fans can keep an eye on tonight while watching the Bulls and Raptors tangle. Everyone can catch the game on ESPN beginning at 6 pm CST.

Although the rosters of the Bulls and Raptors are vastly different in a physical sense, the deciding factors in tonight’s matchup could honestly go either way. Toronto’s 41-41 regular season — one game better than Chicago’s 40-42 — which included a 27-14 (.659) mark at home and 2-1 record against the Bulls, ended up being the deciding reason tonight’s contest is taking place in Canada and not the Windy City.

Over their last 10 games, the Raptors went 6-4, averaging 112.6 points, 43.6 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. They held opponents to just 105.9 points per game.

Chicago also went 6-4 over their last 10 games, averaging 112.8 points, 40.1 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. The Bulls held their opponents to 106.8 points.

Defensively, both the Bulls and Raptors live by similar beliefs. Toronto isn’t shy when it comes to physicality. They’ve been aggressive in employing traps, jumping passing lanes and having active hands. They led the league with 18.1 deflections per game, and forced opponents to commit on average 16.7 turnovers, ranking second overall. Chicago wasn’t too shabby in both of these categories either. The Bulls finished the season ranked 4th with 15.4 deflections per game and 8th in opponent turnovers at 15.0 per game.

However, two big reasons could decide who wins tonight. All-in-all, Toronto has done an incredible job of protecting the ball, committing only 11.7 miscues per game, the best in the NBA. The Bulls were also good, committing, on average, just 13.4 per game, which ranked 8th.

Both squads also relied heavily on takeaways to power its offense. The Raptors led the league in scoring off opponent turnovers at 21.0 points per game, while Chicago (4th) wasn’t far behind, at 18.3. However, in the three games they played one another this season, Toronto’s in-your-face defensive pressure forced Chicago into committing 57 turnovers (19.0 per game), while the Raptors stayed relatively calm when Chicago amped up its pressure, fumbling only 34 times (11.3 per game). Thus, tonight, the Bulls have to do a far better job of staying composed and protecting the ball.

The second major factor leaning in Toronto’s favor is their overall length and athleticism. The Raptors are very bouncy at both ends of the floor which helps them protect the rim and gain extra offensive possessions.

They’re a terrific rebounding squad, especially on the offensive glass, as they finished second in the league with 12.7 offensive rebounds per game, and second overall in second-chance scoring at 16.4 points per game.

The Bulls, to put it politely, were not a good offensive rebounding team, finishing 28th out of 30 with an average of just 8.5 per game. Chicago, was, however, top 10 when it came to defensive rebounding, averaging 33.9 per game (9th).

But truth be told, the Raptors’ length with the likes of Pascal Siakam (6’8), OG Anunoby (6’7) and Scottie Barnes (6’8) is simply a bad matchup for Chicago’s most trusted forward pairing of DeMar DeRozan (6’6) and Alex Caruso (6’5).

Need proof? Look no further than the last time the Bulls and Raptors met in Toronto on February 28th. The Raptors won, 104-98, despite shooting 40.4% while Chicago was a blistering 52.1% from the field.

Well, thanks mainly to their size advantage over the Bulls, Toronto was able to attempt 94 shots to Chicago’s 71 because they finished +13 in offensive rebounds (19-6) and +8 in turnovers (20-12). Furthermore, the Bulls’ 20 turnovers led to 21 fastbreak points for the Raptors, and six of their 19 offensive rebounds that night (and seven of their 15 second-chance points) came during the fourth quarter, helping Toronto close the game down the stretch.

For Chicago to turn the tables and end up as the last one standing tonight, the Bulls are going to need someone unexpected to deliver big-time results.

So far Toronto has done an outstanding job of suffocating DeRozan’s offensive game, holding the Bulls All-Star to 10.5-points below his season average. The Raptors have trapped and double-teamed DeRozan all over the floor to neutralize him, keeping him away from his favorite spots on the floor, as well as frustrating him into committing costly turnovers and taking bad shots. Chances are the Raptors are going to try to do the same tonight, so it’s vital Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević fill the void by delivering a high level of production, as well as someone else to help LaVine carry the freight.

The most logical players that need to come through in the clutch for the Bulls tonight will be Patrick Beverley and Alex Caruso. Neither is a consistent, let alone dead-eye outside shooter. Because of that, look for Toronto’s defense to leave both Beverley and Caruso alone for most of the game, daring them both to shoot.

To that end, one or both will simply have to hit some shots to force the Raptors to adjust and return to playing a more conventional defense, which would lessen the pressure on DeRozan, LaVine and Vučević. If Beverley and/or Caruso can take advantage of being left alone, the Bulls’ chances of having a good night skyrocket. But if they don’t shoot well, look for Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan to give Coby White extra run as he and LaVine are without question the team’s best long-distance options.

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Keys to the Game: Bulls at Raptors (04.12.23)

The Bulls (39-42) and the Detroit Pistons (17-64) come together this afternoon at the United Center to close out the 2022-23 season.

Coming into today, Chicago has won 14 straight versus the Pistons dating back to 2019. The teams last met on March 1 in Motown with the Bulls coming out on top, 117-115. Zach Lavine poured in 41 points to lead Chicago, while veteran forward Bojan Bogdanović recorded 34 for Detroit.

After getting off to three straight slow starts, and losing two straight games, the Bulls got back on track Friday in Dallas with a 115-112 victory to complete a season sweep of the Mavericks.

With Chicago already qualified for the play-in tournament as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls’ Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Beverley were put on ice for the night, while Alex Caruso was purposely held to limited minutes. That opened the door for reserves Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to gain extra playing time, and both guards took full advantage.

White, a fourth-year player out of North Carolina, logged a team-high 42 minutes and led Chicago’s attack with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting (58.8%), while also handing out a season-high 11 assists. Dosunmu played 38 minutes and chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds, as well as dishing five dimes. Patrick Williams also stepped up in a big way, notching 23 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while center Nikola Vučević recorded his 51st double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. &nbsp;

The Bulls have gone 13-9 over their last 22 games, while the Pistons, who defeated Indiana, 122-115, also on Friday, haven’t done near as well, going 2-20 over the same stretch.

As for this afternoon’s matinee, here are a few things to keep an eye on. Fans can catch the action on NBC Sports Chicago beginning at 12 pm CST.

Despite their record, the Pistons are on track to become a major problem in the not-too-distant future. Detroit added two highly talented players in the first round of this past year’s Draft in Purdue’s Jaden Ivey at No. 5 and landing center Jalen Duren out of Memphis at No. 13 via trade.

Both have looked comfortable and able with every game they play. Ivey comes in averaging 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists, while Duren ably mans the middle. He’s recorded four double-doubles in his last seven games, averaging 13.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals over this span. The other night against Indiana, the 6’10 pivot delivered 10 points and 10 rebounds, one steal and two blocks in only 23 minutes.

Ivey loves to run downhill and aggressively attack the rim at every opportunity. Chicago’s backcourt dynamos of Patrick Beverley, Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu will have to stay in front of him today as much as possible, denying Ivey opportunities to ignite Detroit’s offense with thunderous dunks and nifty up-and-under layups.

In a change from Friday, DeRozan and Beverley are expected to return to the starting lineup this afternoon, while LaVine, as of this writing, is listed as “questionable.” However, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has publicly stated he would like everyone to play so that the team can stay in rhythm before going to Toronto on Wednesday to tip-off the play-in tournament.

LaVine, in particular, has had an amazing run against Detroit this season. In the first three contests, the Bulls’ guard has led the team in scoring each time, recording 43, 30 and 41 points, respectively, for an average of 38 per contest while shooting 54.2% from deep (13-of-24) and 65.0% overall from the field (39-of-60).

As for the entire team this afternoon, one thing for certain is the Bulls need to break their recent habit of stumbling out of the gates and falling behind by double-digits in the opening minutes of games. Chicago has to take the floor focused and sporting a hardnosed and aggressive attitude. They also need to improve their ability to communicate with one another and recognize when to rotate defensively, when to jump passing lanes and when to slide under the basket to close-off driving lanes to the hoop.

Offensively, its vital Chicago also makes sure everyone becomes invested in the action. The ball needs to freely skip all around the perimeter and in and out of the paint, forcing Detroit’s defense to constantly scramble and adjust by chasing after attackers making their way to the hoop. The Bulls need to establish a fast and effective pace right from the start by continuously being on the move, cutting in-and-out of the paint and outside to free themselves from defenders.

Lastly, the Bulls need to improve their mental toughness. Chicago has to play with passion and aggression on every possession, but also keep their poise whenever the Pistons look to ramp up their defensive pressure. Rebounding and keeping turnovers to a minimum while piling up assists is always an important key to winning games. As you would expect, Chicago’s record this season is 25-7 when the Bulls win the battle of the boards and 22-12 when they record more assists. &nbsp;

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Keys to the Game: Bulls vs Pistons (04.09.23)

Tonight the Chicago Bulls (38-42) play their final road game of the regular season in North Central Texas at the American Airlines Center against the Dallas Mavericks (38-42).

Chicago took full advantage of the decision to sit All-Star Luka Dončić in the series opener back on December 10 at the United Center. Dončić scored 33 points and dished 11 assists the night before against Milwaukee, but unfortunately, he tweaked a nagging quad injury during the game. With the Mavs having to fly from Dallas to Chicago immediately afterwards, and knowing they wouldn’t arrive at their hotel until after 3 am, both Dončić and the Mavericks opted for him to stay home and skip the trip to the Windy City. Fans were disappointed that one of the best players in the league was not going to play in his team’s only trip to town, but that quickly faded as they witnessed the Bulls thoroughly dominating the game from tip-off to final horn, in posting a 144-115 beatdown.

Chicago’s All-Star, DeMar DeRozan, led the Bulls’ attack with 28 points and nine rebounds, followed by center Nikola Vučević’s 20 points and eight rebounds and Ayo Dosunmu’s 17-point effort. Zach LaVine, Derrick Jones Jr., and Patrick Williams also chipped in 16 points apiece as the Bulls shot a season-best 63.5% from the field, and a blistering 55.9% from behind the 3-point arc.

Chicago also won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Mavericks 44-37, and dished 33 assists while committing only eight turnovers. &nbsp;

All-in-all, the Bulls have won five of their last six meetings against the Mavericks, with each being decided by double-digits. As for tonight’s contest, here are a few things to look for while catching the action on TV. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm CST and is being broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago.

The Bulls come in looking to get on track after dropping two straight games. On Wednesday in Milwaukee, Chicago once again got off to a slow start, despite Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting on the sidelines. It was the third straight game the Bulls stumbled out of the gates. By the end of the opening quarter, Chicago hit only 9-of-24 (37.5%) shots from the field and trailed 28-21.

Poor starts isn’t something particularly new for Chicago this season. The Bulls average 26 first-quarter points, second-lowest in the league. So when they open a game colder than normal, it takes a lot of energy to claw out of the hole they’ve dug to give themselves a shot of being the last team standing by the end of the night.

Against the Bucks, DeMar DeRozan missed his first two shot attempts, and never really got going, finishing a very uncharacteristic 3-of-12 for the game. Zach LaVine also had a tough shooting night, going 1-of-6 from distance. As of this writing, both DeRozan and LaVine, as well as Alex Caruso are listed as “Questionable” for tonight’s contest. The Bulls are locked in as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference, so no matter how they do in the remaining two games of the season, they’re going to be on the road to tip-off the NBA play-in tournament next Wednesday.

Despite beating Sacramento on Wednesday, the Mavericks, who made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals last year, have really struggled this season. Dallas has won only four of their last 12 games, and they’re currently on the outside looking in as the West’s 11th seed. The Mavs are hoping to sneak in front of Oklahoma City for the last play-in spot, but the Thunder own the tiebreaker. Dallas is going to have to win tonight and again Sunday afternoon against the Spurs, and hope OKC stumbles at least once to have a chance at making another playoff run.

So for that reason alone, you can expect both Dončić and Kyrie Irving to take the floor tonight for the Mavs. Against the Kings the other night, Irving capped a 19-point fourth quarter with a high-arching 3-pointer to finish with 31 points, while Dončić also had a big game, finishing with 29 points and 10 rebounds to help Dallas slay the Kings, 123-119.

The victory ended a three-game losing streak and was Dallas’ second victory in its past nine games.

Dallas comes in tonight averaging 114.2 points (16th) on 47.6% shooting (14th) while allowing opponents 113.8 points (15th) on 48.4% from the field (23rd). Dončić and Irving have always been big-time scorers throughout their careers. Dončić will likely finish behind Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (33.3) as the NBA’s second-leading scorer this season, as he comes in averaging 32.7 points, while Irving will finish among the top 10, as he presently ranks 8th with an average of 27.1. The problem with both players is neither of them plays a lick of defense. However, if DeRozan and LaVine do sit out tonight, their defense (or lack of defense) may not be a major issue.

For the Bulls to win this evening, they are going to have to hit the floor with a hardnosed attitude. They have to storm out of their locker room focused, determined, and spitting fire. They have to embrace being physical, and eager to play fast. They have to be unselfish, and at no time can they relax or back off.

Offensively, Chicago must get everyone invested in the action by freely moving the ball in and out of the paint and making sure everyone plays an active role. Chicago can’t afford to stand still and watch one or two players take on the entire Mavericks defense. Everyone has to constantly be on the move, cutting in-and-out of the paint and around the perimeter.

Lastly, Chicago has to be mentally tough from tip-off ‘til final horn. They have to play with passion and aggression on every possession. The Bulls’ margin for error this season has proven extremely small, so they need to show grit by getting the ball deep into the paint and relentlessly attack the rim, forcing Dallas to fight for their playoff lives.

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Keys to the Game: Bulls at Mavericks (04.07.23)

The Chicago Bulls (38-41) visit Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks (57-22), to complete a back-to-back after falling to the Atlanta Hawks, 123-105, last night at the United Center.

The Bulls and Bucks have already met three times this year, with Chicago coming out on top twice. If the Bulls can beat Milwaukee again, it’ll be the first time since 2015-16 they will have captured the season series. &nbsp;

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind while watching tonight’s game. Fans can catch all the action on either ESPN or NBC Sports Chicago at 6:30 pm CST.

Milwaukee is the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed and the owners of the NBA’s best record. In fact, the Bucks have been elite for some time now, finishing top 3 in the East in each of the last four seasons, and the No. 1 seed twice before this year. Since January 23, Milwaukee has gone 28-5 (.849), and averaged an NBA-best 124.1 points and 49.7 rebounds per game.

Last night in our Nation’s Capital, the Bucks absolutely destroyed the Washington Wizards, 140-128, behind two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 6th triple-double on the year (28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists). Veteran point guard, Jrue Holiday, also had a big night of his own with 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

As they have so many times this season, the Bucks controlled the boards from start to finish, outrebounding Washington 56-42, and outscoring them 19-9 on second-chance opportunities. Milwaukee also hit 10 more treys than the Wizards, shooting a blistering 23-of-42 (54.8%) from behind the arc. The Bucks also did an excellent job of sharing the ball, registering 33 assists on 50 made baskets.

Look for Milwaukee to try to do the same this evening against Chicago. The Bulls have not been a very good rebounding team this season. So if they’re going to give themselves a shot of knocking off the Bucks for the second time this season on their home floor, Chicago will not only need to shoot lights out from the field, but they’ll also need to expend a lot of energy on the glass and deny Milwaukee chances to score easy buckets on second chance opportunities.

Antetokounmpo is averaging a career-high 31.1 points, ranking 5th in the league. He’s also No. 3 in rebounding at 11.8 per game. He inflicts most of his damage near the hoop, as he’s the NBA’s second leading scorer in the paint at 18.8 per game.

With their win over Washington last night, the Bucks are three full games ahead of Boston for the top spot in the East and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Both Milwaukee and the Celtics have only three games left to play, so a victory over the Bulls tonight would seal the deal for the Bucks.

For Chicago, last night’s loss to Atlanta was very disappointing. Not only were the Hawks missing their best player in Trae Young, but Chicago started the game flat and often looked disinterested as the night went along. The Hawks regularly outworked and outhustled the Bulls, outrebounding Chicago 48-32, outscoring them in transition (22-9) and in the paint (70-52). Even Atlanta’s bench outplayed Chicago’s, outscoring the Bulls’ 40-28.

Despite the Atlanta loss, the Bulls, thanks to Orlando also losing last night, have clinched no worse than the 10th seed in the East and have qualified for the NBA’s play-in tournament that tips-off next week.

Established in 2020, the play-in tournament pits the No. 7 seed against the No. 8 seed, and the No. 9 seed against the 10th. The winner of the 7/8 game automatically advances to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The loser of the 9/10 game is eliminated while the winner lives another day but has to go on the road to meet the loser of the 7/8 game in a “win or go home” contest to capture the conference’s final playoff berth and the right to take on the East’s No. 1 seed, currently Milwaukee, in the opening round of the playoffs.

One of the greatest things about the NBA is oftentimes there’s another game around the corner. After getting punched in the nose last night, Chicago has an opportunity to get back on track this evening, but they’re going to have to take on one of the game’s very best.

As mentioned, the Bulls have beaten the Bucks twice this season, so why not a third time? To achieve this goal, Chicago will have to forget about last night and focus solely on the job at hand.

The Bulls have to do a far better job of crashing the boards and preventing Milwaukee opportunities to post easy scores via put-backs.

Chicago has to be mentally tough from tip-off ‘til final horn. They have to play with passion and controlled aggression in every way imaginable. The Bulls’ margin for error has proven to be extremely small this season, so they can’t afford to relax.

Offensively, Chicago has to freely move the ball, making sure everyone is engaged in the action. The Bulls have to consistently look to attack the basket and draw contact while finishing at the rim.

Simply put, Chicago has to show up with a chip on its shoulder and embrace physicality and not shy away from getting their hands dirty. They have to trust one another and refuse to surrender, much like they did last night.

Against a team like Milwaukee, Chicago’s “Big 3” of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vučević have to play at a high level for the Bulls to win.

LaVine leads the team in scoring at 25.1 per game, but since the All-Star break, a span of 20 games, his numbers have jumped significantly. LaVine’s averaging 28.2 points while shooting 54.8% from the field and 41.9% from long distance. He’s also hit 87.9% of his free throws.

DeRozan comes in averaging 24.9 points per game, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds. His stats since the All-Star break have stayed fairly consistent. In 19 games, he’s averaged 23.6 points while shooting 50.8% from the field, 34.6% from the arc and 83.9% from the line. But in three games against the Bucks so far this season, DeRozan is averaging 39.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 59.2% from the floor, 66.7% from the arc, and 85.7% from the charity stripe. So another “average” Milwaukee game out of DeRozan certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing. And last but certainly not least, Nikola Vučević is also having a terrific season, averaging 17.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 52.1% from the floor and 35.2% from behind the 3-point arc. The 6’10 center ranks third in the league with 49 double-doubles this year, which is the most a Bulls player has collected since Charles Oakley’s 53 in 1986-87. In the three games against Milwaukee this season, “Vooch,” on average, has delivered 18.3 points and 11.7 rebounds, while shooting 42.9% from distance.

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Keys to the Game: Bulls at Bucks (04.05.23)

The Chicago Bulls (38-40) are back in action at the United Center this evening to take on the Atlanta Hawks (39-39) for the fourth and final time this season.

Coming into tonight, the Bulls sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the ninth-place Toronto Raptors and eighth-place Atlanta Hawks.

With Chicago having lost two of three head-to-head matchups against the Raptors, Toronto holds a tiebreaker with the Bulls. So for Chicago to jump past them, the Bulls would need to finish a full game ahead of Toronto in the standings. But with only four games remaining, the scenario of the Bulls leapfrogging Toronto is, at best, a long shot. However, Chicago, who has beaten Atlanta twice already this season, could jump in front of the Hawks for a better seed at the end of the season with another victory tonight.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind while watching the Bulls and Hawks this evening. Fans can catch all the action on NBC Sports Chicago beginning at 7:00 pm CST.

In their last outing Sunday, the Bulls got off to a horrendous start against the Memphis Grizzlies, falling behind by as many as 23 points in the second quarter. But instead of waving a white flag, Chicago, gritted its teeth and got down to business, employing some of the best defense any team in the NBA has displayed this season. How else can someone explain a 44-point swing against the No. 2 team in the West? Chicago trailed 61-38 at the 5:07 mark in the second quarter but by the end of the afternoon, the&nbsp; Bulls ended up with a 21-point blowout victory in its back pocket. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The Bulls came out of the locker room at halftime focused and determined. Chicago opened the quarter with a 19-8 run to turn the tables on the Grizzlies. The Bulls suddenly looked confident, as they imposed their will at both ends of the floor by amping up their defensive pressure. Chicago recorded nine steals and four blocks after halftime and forced the Grizzlies to commit 16 turnovers. By the time the third quarter ended, Memphis’s 68-53 halftime lead was completely erased, as Chicago was now in front, 93-84 with 12 minutes left to play.

The Bulls continued to flex their muscles in the fourth quarter, refusing to relax or coast. They continued to jump passing lanes and double-team the ball, forcing Memphis to scramble and fall apart. When all the dust settled, Chicago outscored Memphis 75-39 in the second half to post a 128-107 victory.

All-in-all, the Bulls scored 31 points off 18 Memphis miscues while not allowing the Grizzlies to cash even one point off three Chicago fumbles. The Bulls also recorded nine steals and blocked four shots in the second half, while Memphis could only muster four offensive rebounds. &nbsp;

Once again, Zach LaVine (36 points and nine assists) and DeMar DeRozan (31 points, seven assists and five rebounds) were brilliant, while center Nikola Vučević recorded his 48th double-double by chipping in 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bulls’ “Power Trio” will need to continue delivering big-time efforts this evening to cage the Hawks.

DeRozan has led the Bulls in scoring in each of the three games between the teams this season, averaging 29.3 points in the series. LaVine has scored 20-or-more-points in nine straight outings against Atlanta and is averaging 26.0 points over his last five games overall.

Offensively, it’s very important Chicago continue to freely skip the ball to get everyone invested and involved in the action. As good and as important as DeRozan, LaVine and Vučević are to Chicago achieving success, it’s also vital everyone else contributes something positive on offense.

Thus for Chicago to win again tonight, they’ll have to hit the floor with the same unselfish and hardnosed attitude they displayed Sunday. They’ll need to embrace physical play at both ends of the court, and defensively they’ll have to consistently jump passing lanes and swarm the ball.

The Bulls have been one of the NBA’s top defensive teams this season. Coming into tonight, Chicago ranks tied for 5th in defensive rating (111.8), but since January 1, they’re No. 1 with a defensive rating of 110.7.

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the NBA’s top offensive threats, ranking 4th in the league in scoring at 118.1 points per game. They also come in tonight riding a wave of momentum after beating Dallas, 132-130, in overtime on Sunday.

All five Atlanta starters finished the Dallas game with at least 10 points scored and one steal.

The Hawks’ backcourt of Dejounte Murray and Trae Young is also one of the most potent in the game today. Against the Mavericks, Murray led the charge with 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Young was right behind at 24 points and 12 assists. Strongman John Collins also added 18 points, 10 rebounds and a pair of steals, while center Clint Capela chipped in 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Whenever anyone thinks of the Atlanta Hawks, the first (current) player to come to mind is 5th year man Trae Young. The 6’1 guard not only leads the Hawks in scoring at 26.4 points per game, but for the second straight season, he leads the NBA in total assists, dishing out 705 dimes.

Dejounte Murray arrived in a trade with the Spurs last summer, and he’s meshed perfectly with Young running alongside him. The 6’4 guard out of the University of Washington comes in tonight averaging 20.3 points, 6.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds.

Another Hawks player to keep an eye on tonight is forward Onyeka Okongwu, who is coming off his 31st multi-block game of the season after finishing with 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes off-the-bench against Dallas. The long-armed big man has rejected at least one shot in 13 straight games, which is the second-longest such streak of his career and the longest active block streak in the NBA today.

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Keys to the Game: Bulls vs Hawks (04.04.23)

This afternoon the Bulls (37-40) are back home at the United Center to meet the Memphis Grizzlies (49-28) for the second and final time this season.

Memphis won the series opener on its home floor, 104-89, on February 7. Chicago started the game ice cold, falling behind 26-14 after 12 minutes. But the Bulls warmed up a little in the second, even winning the quarter, 25-23, but still trailing by 10-points, 49-39, at the half.

Behind center Nikola Vučević, who scored 14 points, and Zach LaVine, who added a dozen, Chicago continued its hot streak in the third quarter, jumping the Grizzlies to claim a 75-72 lead entering the fourth and final stanza. But the Bulls suffered another bout of bad basketball, going 5-of-19 (26.3%) from the field in the fourth, including hitting just one of its 10 3-point attempts, as the Grizz reclaimed the lead and never looked back in posting a 15-point victory, and defeating Chicago for the fifth straight time.

Here are a few things to keep in mind this afternoon as the Bulls look to stay on track against the Memphis Grizzlies (2:30 pm CST tipoff – NBC Sports Chicago):

In their last outing on Friday, Chicago traveled to Charlotte and swatted the injury-plagued Hornets, 121-91, to take a big step forward towards earning one of the few remaining spots in the upcoming NBA play-in tournament. With only five games left to play, Chicago’s victory coupled with Washington’s loss to Orlando on Friday, has placed the Bulls three full games ahead of the Wizards for the Eastern Conference’s 10th seed and final invite to the play-in tournament.

Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan each scored 23 points, while center Nikola Vučević added 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bulls to victory.

Chicago did exactly what it needed to do to defeat Charlotte and will need to deliver the same type of effort this afternoon to knock-off a far more potent Memphis squad.

The Bulls stampeded out of the gates and never trailed, even running out to a 32-point lead at one point. The Bulls consistently attacked the rim, outscoring the Hornets &nbsp;48-38 in the paint and 19-15 in transition. Chicago also controlled the boards, outrebounding Charlotte 42-36 and doubling them in second-chance scoring 16-8.

For the Bulls to win this afternoon, they have to hit the floor with the same hardnosed attitude they had Friday. Chicago has to be physical, play fast, and be unselfish. At no time can they afford to relax or coast.

Offensively, Chicago must freely skip the ball all around the floor, getting everyone invested in the action. Additionally, every Bulls player needs to constantly be on the move, cutting in-and-out of the paint and around the perimeter to free themselves from defenders. To that end, Chicago also needs to consistently pass the ball into the paint. They have to attack Memphis’ defense while finishing their shots at the rim.

Memphis, who has already clinched the Southwest Division crown, comes to town today in search of its 50th win. The other night, the Grizzlies rallied from an early 21-point deficit to take care of business at home, defeating the LA Clippers, 108-94. Desmond Bane led the charge with a team-high 22 points, while Luke Kennard stormed off the bench to spark a second quarter rally with four three-pointers to help take down his former team. Kennard, who finished with 17 points, started the season with the Clippers. He was shipped to Memphis at the February trade deadline as part of a three-team deal.

On the season, the Grizzlies rank 8th in the NBA in scoring at 116.8 points per game. Memphis is also 3rd in the league in rebounding (46.6) and 11th in assists (25.7). Defensively, the Grizzlies are the NBA’s 10th best, allowing 112.5 points.

All-Star guard, Ja Morant, leads the team in scoring at 26.6 points plus eight assists. Forward Desmond Bane adds 21.4 points, while big man Jaren Jackson Jr. contributes 17.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.

As for Chicago, they stand 19th in the league in scoring with an average of 113.4 points. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are the Bulls’ leading scorers, as both average 24.9 points per game. Center Nikola Vučević is Chicago’s third scoring option, averaging 17.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.

As a team, Chicago ranks 3rd in field goal percentage (49.1%) while defensively, they rank 8th, allowing just 112.2 points.

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Keys to the Game: Bulls vs. Grizzlies (04.02.23)

Tonight the Chicago Bulls (36-40) visit Charlotte, NC, to meet the Hornets (26-51) for the fourth and final time. The Bulls have won two of the first three get-togethers this year and are shooting to capture their fourth-straight season series against the Buzz. All-in-all, Chicago has won seven of the last 10 games between the teams.

With only six games left in the regular season, the Bulls are 10th in the East, and hold the conference’s final play-in spot. The Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are two full games ahead of them, while the Washington Wizards are stuck in 11th place, trailing Chicago by two.

The Bulls hit the floor this evening having dropped its last pair of games, falling 124-112 on the road to the LA Clippers on Monday, and 121-110 at home to the Lakers on Wednesday. After facing Charlotte tonight, Chicago’s schedule ends with games at home against Memphis and Atlanta, and visits to Milwaukee and Dallas, before concluding back at the United Center against Detroit.

Coming into tonight’s contest, the Bulls are 24th (112.8) in offensive efficiency, but 6th (112.0) overall on the defensive end. Zach LaVine leads the team in scoring at 25 points per game. Six-time All-Star, DeMar DeRozan, is just behind LaVine at 24.9 per game, while center Nikola Vučević delivers 17.7 points and 11.1 rebounds. Against the Lakers the other night, Vučević found his groove early and went on to lead Chicago’s attack with 29 points and 12 rebounds. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get him on track early again tonight.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind this evening as the Bulls attempt to swat the Hornets one last time this season (6:00 pm CST tipoff – NBC Sports Chicago):

All that’s left for the Hornets this season is to play spoiler. Charlotte was eliminated from postseason contention long ago and come in tonight with the fourth-worst record in the league, ahead of only Detroit, Houston, and San Antonio.

Charlotte is dead last in offensive efficiency (30th, 108.7), and 20th (114.6) on defense. However, despite another frustrating year that hasn’t stopped the Hornets from giving their all on a nightly basis. In fact, they’re on a roll of late, having won three straight games, knocking off Dallas twice and then posting a 137-134 victory in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

Forward P.J. Washington has really been coming on strong as the season moves along. In a dozen games this month, Washington is averaging 18.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 32.7 minutes. For the season, he’s delivering a career-best 15.8 points, along with 4.9 rebounds. But against the Thunder the other night, he hit 16-of-24 (66.7%) from the field in dropping 43 points on the Thunder.

In fact, it was a solid team effort, and not just a one-man job – although Washington put on a heck of a show.

On the road against the Thunder, which is never an easy task, the Hornets, as a team, shot a blistering 52-of-94 (55.3%) overall from the field, and 14-of-35 (40%) from beyond the three-point arc. They regularly attacked the rim and made their way to the charity stripe for a whopping 30 free-throw attempts.

The Bulls can’t afford to take anything for granted this evening, as the Hornets have to be feeling fairly confident in their abilities in riding a three-game winning streak and facing a team that has lost two straight by double-digits.

Injuries have played a major role in Charlotte’s tough season. Star point guard LaMelo Ball has only been able to suit up 36 times. When available, Ball was spectacular, averaging 23.3 points, 8.4 assists and 6.4 rebounds.

Talented backcourt mate, Terry Rozier, has also been in-and-out of the lineup, playing just &nbsp;63 games. When he was able to take the floor, Rozier, on average, delivered 21.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds.

Forwards Kelly Oubre Jr. (48 games, 15.8 points) and Gordon Hayward (50 games, 14.7 points) have also missed significant time this season.

As of this writing, all four aren’t expected to play against the Bulls. Ball and Rozier are definitely out, while Oubre Jr. has been listed as “questionable,” with Hayward designated as “doubtful.”

For the Bulls to achieve success they have to hit the floor with a hardnosed attitude from the jump. They need to be physical, play fast, and be unselfish. At no time can they relax or coast.

Chicago must freely skip the ball around the floor, making sure everyone gets engaged and invested in the action. Additionally, every player has to constantly move in-and-out of the paint and all around the perimeter to free themselves from defenders for easy scores and also gain open looks at the basket.

To that end, the Bulls need to consistently get the ball deep into the paint, attack and finish their shots at the rim. They have to force Charlotte’s defense to scramble and breakdown.

As the late, great former legendary Chicago Bulls All-Star point guard, Norm Van Lier, would plead before every game, “I need 48 minutes of INTENSITY!”

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Keys to the Game: Bulls at Hornets (03.31.23)

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