Bulls vs. Hawks Preview: Health Returns, Stars Align, and the East’s Middle Tier Heats Up
As the NBA season grinds into the winter months, the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks find themselves battling not just for playoff positioning, but for stability. Both teams sit at the heart of the Eastern Conference’s middle tier - Chicago in ninth, Atlanta in tenth - and Sunday’s matchup offers more than just a regular-season W. It’s a litmus test for two franchises trying to find consistency in a season that’s been anything but predictable.
Bulls Finally Getting Their Legs Back
Let’s start with the Bulls, who are finally starting to look like the team they envisioned back in training camp. After weeks of juggling injuries and patchwork rotations, Chicago is getting healthy - and it’s showing up in the win column. The Bulls are coming off back-to-back wins, including a high-scoring 136-125 victory over the Cavaliers that looked more like a track meet than a basketball game.
The biggest development? Head coach Billy Donovan had something resembling a full rotation at his disposal. That’s been a rarity this season.
The starting five - Josh Giddey, Coby White, Isaac Okoro, rookie Matas Buzelis, and veteran big man Nikola Vucevic - gave the Bulls a balanced, versatile look. But it was the bench contributions that really told the story of a team finally getting its depth back. Kevin Huerter logged 20 minutes, Tre Jones added 22, Zach Collins chipped in 19, Jalen Smith played 15, and Ayo Dosunmu - still ramping up with a minutes restriction - gave them 14 solid minutes.
Don’t be surprised if Dosunmu’s role increases against Atlanta. The thumb injury is still being managed, but his energy and perimeter defense are key to what the Bulls want to do on both ends. With Smith also listed as probable (quadriceps), Chicago could be looking at one of its deepest rotations in weeks.
Trae’s Return Could Spark the Hawks
On the other side, the Hawks are trying to pull themselves out of a mini-slide. After back-to-back losses - including a blowout at the hands of the Spurs - Atlanta is hoping the return of its franchise point guard can flip the switch.
Trae Young is expected to play after sitting out Friday’s game against San Antonio. The 27-year-old made his return from a sprained right MCL on December 18, logging 20 minutes in a loss to Charlotte where he posted eight points and 10 assists. It wasn’t vintage Trae, but it was enough to remind everyone just how much he means to this team.
And yet, even with Young sidelined for much of the season, Atlanta hasn’t completely fallen apart - and that’s thanks in large part to the emergence of Jalen Johnson.
Johnson is no longer just a promising wing - he’s playing like a bonafide star. The fifth-year forward is averaging 23.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, with shooting splits that any All-NBA candidate would be proud of: 52% from the field, 40% from three, and 83% at the line.
He’s already racked up eight triple-doubles this season, including three straight earlier this month. That’s elite company.
With Young back in the mix and Johnson playing the best basketball of his career, Atlanta has reason to believe its best stretch of the season could be right around the corner.
The Stakes
This isn’t just a battle of two teams hovering around .500 - it’s a matchup between two squads trying to define who they are. For the Bulls, it’s about building on momentum and finally seeing what this roster looks like when it’s (mostly) healthy. For the Hawks, it’s about reintegrating their star point guard and seeing how far Johnson’s rise can carry them.
Both teams have playoff aspirations. Both are dealing with the grind of the season. And both are starting to look more like the versions of themselves they hoped to be.
Sunday’s game might not have the marquee billing of a top-seed showdown, but make no mistake - this one matters. It’s a clash of two teams trying to climb out of the East’s crowded middle and prove they belong in the playoff conversation.
Injury Report
Chicago Bulls
- Probable: Ayo Dosunmu (thumb), Jalen Smith (quadriceps)
Atlanta Hawks
- No new injuries reported, with Trae Young expected to return to action.
Tip-off’s coming, and both teams are bringing something to prove.