Game preview and injury report: Chicago Bulls road game vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Chicago Bulls (38-41) visit the Milwaukee Bucks (57-22) tonight. The Bulls are coming off a disappointing 123-105 home loss against the Hawks last night. Zach LaVine led the way with 26 points, six assists, and three rebounds, DeMar DeRozan had 21 points and four rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic added 19 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists in the setback.

Chicago Bulls (38-41) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (57-22)

Wednesday, April 5 – 7:30 PM ET at Fiserv Forum

Chicago Bulls

Points Per Game: 113.5 (18th of 30)
Opponent Points Per Game: 112.3 (7th of 30)
Bench Points Per Game: 30.9 (24th of 30)
Pace: 98.6 (17th of 30)
Offensive Rating: 113.8 (23rd of 30)
Defensive Rating: 112.6 (6th of 30)
Net Rating: +1.2 (12th of 30)

Milwaukee Bucks

Points Per Game: 117.3 (7th of 30)
Opponent Points Per Game: 113.2 (14th of 30)
Bench Points Per Game: 34.3 (16th of 30)
Pace: 100.6 (9th of 30)
Offensive Rating: 115.6 (12th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 111.6 (4th of 30)
Net Rating: +4 (4th of 30)

Jrue Holiday stepping up for the Bucks

Jrue Holiday had a monster game with 26 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds on 12-of-21 shooting in Tuesday’s 140-128 road win against the Wizards.

Holiday is averaging 16.7 points, six rebounds and 5.7 assists in 29.7 minutes over his last three games for the Bucks. With Khris Middleton out due to right knee injury management, Holiday was supposed to be the second scoring option and he delivered.

Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated as well with a triple-double by putting up 28 points, 11 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists.

Outscore the Bucks in fastbreak points

The Bulls were just 41-of-89 (46.1 percent) from the field and 7-of-31 (22.6 percent) from three-point range against the Hawks, and it’s clear that their inability to score the ball from half-court sets hurt them last night.

Scoring in transition could help the Bulls’ half-court offense against the Bucks. The Bulls forced 16 turnovers from the Hawks so they could get out in transition, while they committed eight turnovers.

The eight-turnover differential didn’t make a difference, as the Hawks actually outscored the Bulls 22-7 in fast break points. The Bulls must force the Bucks to make mistakes and outscore them in fastbreak points on Wednesday.

Noteworthy

The Bucks won the last meeting, 112-100 on February 16. Vucevic led the Bulls with 22 points.

Milwaukee beat Chicago three of the last five times.

The Bulls are 3-7 in the last 10 matchups against the Bucks.

Projected lineups

Bulls: Vucevic, Caruso, LaVine, DeRozan, Beverley

Bucks: Lopez, Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Matthews, Holiday

Injury report

Bulls: Lonzo Ball is out with a left knee injury.

Bucks: Pat Connaughton (right ankle sprain) and Grayson Allen (right ankle sprain) are out. Meyers Leonard (left calf soreness), Jevon Carter (left knee soreness) and Khris Middleton (right knee injury management) are probable.