The Bulls are down to one win in 10 games, and now they’ll try to get their second without Caleb Wilson in the mix.
Chicago officially lost its star rookie on Thursday, when Wilson underwent surgery on his right hand. He’s expected to miss at least the next month, a tough blow for a team already sitting at 1-9. At the same time, it creates a bigger opening for some of the Bulls’ younger pieces to step forward.
That challenge comes tonight against an Atlanta team that has been putting up points in bunches. The Hawks have scored 120 or more in three of their last four games, including a 139-point outburst against the Washington Wizards last Friday.
And with this one coming in the NBA Cup, there’s no reason to expect either side to ease up. Point differential matters in the standings, so the pace should stay high from the opening tip.
That’s especially true because these two teams are running at a breakneck clip to start the season. Chicago is No. 1 in pace, while Atlanta is right behind at No.
- Both sides want to get out and run, and that usually means plenty of transition chances, quick shots, and a whole lot of possessions.
For the Bulls, the offense has to carry over what it showed in the first half against San Antonio if it wants to keep this one close. Atlanta is going to score.
The 3-point line could loom large here, too. The Hawks are firing away from deep, ranking third in the league in attempts at 43.6 per game while hitting them at about the league average.
Chicago, meanwhile, has seen its volume dip a bit after starting the year near the top of the NBA in attempts. The problem is the same one that has haunted them all season: the Bulls are still shooting just 28.9 percent from three, worst in the league.
That kind of cold stretch can swing a game fast, and it has been a major reason for the blowouts.
Chicago also has to take care of the ball, and that’s not an easy assignment against this Atlanta defense. Tiago Splitter’s group has been excellent at forcing turnovers, ranking third in the NBA in that category and turning those mistakes into an average of 22 points. Between Jalen Johnson’s length and Dyson Daniels’ ball pressure, the Hawks are built to make life miserable for a Bulls team that has struggled handling the ball.
Here’s the setup at the United Center:
Who: Atlanta Hawks (7-5) at Chicago Bulls (1-9)
Where: United Center
When: 7:00 PM CT
Watch: Chicago Sports Network
Listen: 104.3 FM The Score
Starting lineups
Bulls: Josh Giddey, Isaac Okoro, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Jalen Smith
Hawks: Kingston Flemings, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu
Injury report
Bulls: Norman Powell - QUESTIONABLE (back); Dailyn Swain - QUESTIONABLE (disc); Caleb Wilson - OUT (hand); Tobe Awaka - OUT (disc)
Hawks: Kingston Flemings - QUESTIONABLE (back); Mouhamed Gueye - OUT (foot); Asa Newell - OUT (toe); Henri Vasser - OUT (knee)
In Other News...
Hawks Still Have One Defensive Problem Without Mo Gueye
The Hawks search for sturdier rim protection has been a recurring theme early on, and the absence of Mo Gueye has only made the frontcourt rotation thinner. With injuries already testing Atlantas interior defense, the team has been forced to lean on stopgap answers while trying to keep opponents out of the paint and limit easy looks around the basket.
Gueye is now moving in the right direction, but the timeline still leaves Atlanta waiting. The Hawks said he has progressed to on-court activities and will be re-evaluated in about four weeks, which means the team will be operating without him for at least another month as it keeps working to shore up that defensive issue in the meantime. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Get A Real Chance To Build Momentum In Chicago
After a four-day break, the Hawks head into Chicago with a chance to reset and keep their season moving in the right direction. The Bulls have been scuffling, and the matchup comes at a time when Atlanta can take advantage of a team that has had trouble finding consistency while dealing with injuries and uncertainty in the rotation.
For the Hawks, this is the kind of spot where the details matter, especially on the interior and in the backcourt. Recent trends point to Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels as the players most likely to shape the game for Atlanta, giving the Hawks a realistic path to build momentum if they handle business against an opponent that has left plenty of openings. [Read more 🡒]
Kingston Flemings Is Giving The Hawks A New Point Guard Debate
Early in the season, Kingston Flemings has pushed his way into the Hawks' point guard picture and made it hard for the staff to ignore what he brings. After earning the starting role, he has appeared in 11 games and has flashed the kind of passing, shooting efficiency and defensive upside that can change how a backcourt is built around him.
The debate now is less about whether Flemings belongs in the rotation and more about how much runway he should get as the season settles in. His best stretch has already included a strong showing against the Miami Heat, and with each game he keeps adding weight to the idea that Atlanta may have found a different kind of lead guard than the one it expected. [Read more 🡒]