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Chicago Bulls vs Brooklyn Nets - GAME DAY PREVIEW
Coming off three straight losses, the Chicago Bulls (5-12) take on the underperforming Brooklyn Nets (7-8), looking to try and find a spark to turn the season around. The Bulls and Nets played just 3 weeks ago in the United Center, a game which saw Chicago fall 109-107, and a result which they’ll hope to avenge Sunday night in Brooklyn this time around.
Battle of the Boards
This season, the Nets rank 3rd in the NBA in total rebounds, whereas the Bulls rank 27th. When the two teams last played on November 3rd, the rebounding battle was pretty even, however Brooklyn was missing its talisman in the paint, Nic Claxton. This time around, if they want to have a chance at winning, controlling the boards and therefore the tempo will be crucial for Chicago.
The Nets currently rank 9th in the NBA for points in transition, and it will be paramount for Chicago to stop them from playing as fast as they’d like to. In their last outing, Brooklyn scored 14 fast break points, compared to Chicago’s 4. Rebounding on both ends of the court will remain a priority Sunday night.
Key Injuries
Zach Lavine, Chicago’s leading scorer, is questionable to play Sunday night while dealing with right foot soreness. If he is inactive, the scoring will have to be heavily reliant on Demar Derozan and Nikola Vucevic, though Coby White’s performance in recent games is another player to look out for offensively in Lavine’s possible absence.
Additionally, Alex Caruso is also questionable Sunday night, also dealing with a foot injury. Caruso did not practice Saturday, and if he is inactive, Chicago’s defense will struggle more than it already has this season. Particularly in transition, Caruso’s ability to force turnovers and generate steals will be sorely missed if he cannot suit up.
Down the stretch, the absence of both Lavine and Caruso would be crucial, as in the last matchup against Brooklyn the Bulls allowed 31 points in the 4th quarter. After that game, Billy Donovan discussed how crucial executing in the final minutes of the game is.
“We just didn't get stops down the stretch at all,” Donovan said. “They scored more baskets than we did, and we had a couple of empty possessions.”
If the Bulls are without two of their starting five against Brooklyn on Sunday night, it’ll be on the rest of the squad to pick up the slack and execute down the stretch.
