Game preview and injury report: Chicago Bulls look to end Milwaukee Bucks' 11-game win streak

The Chicago Bulls (26-32) host the Milwaukee Bucks (40-17) tonight, looking to end the five-game losing streak after a disappointing 117-113 road loss against the Indiana Pacers yesterday.

Milwaukee Bucks (40-17) vs. Chicago Bulls (26-32)

Thursday, February 16 – 07:30 PM ET at United Center

Milwaukee Bucks

Points Per Game: 114.9 (13th of 30)
Opponent Points Per Game: 111.8 (7th of 30)
Bench Points Per Game: 34.3 (17th of 30)
Pace: 100.1 (11th of 30)
Offensive Rating: 113.7 (21st of 30)
Defensive Rating: 110.7 (3rd of 30)
Net Rating: +3 (6th of 30)

Chicago Bulls

Points Per Game: 113.3 (20th of 30)
Opponent Points Per Game: 113.4 (14th of 30)
Bench Points Per Game: 29.9 (24th of 30)
Pace: 99.7 (14th of 30)
Offensive Rating: 112.6 (24th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 112.7 (7th of 30)
Net Rating: -0.1 (21st of 30)Injury report

Contain Holiday and/or Giannis

Jrue Holiday went off for 40 points on 13-of-21 shooting and 8-of-12 from three-point range with seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals in Tuesday’s 131-125 win against the Celtics in overtime.

Holiday came up big in the fourth quarter and overtime, hitting clutch shots and executing key defensive plays. The 32-year-old point guard is averaging 19.6 points, 7.1 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 33.1 minutes over his last ten games, playing the perfect second fiddle to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is having another MVP-worthy campaign.

The Bucks are currently on an 11-game winning streak, sitting just one game behind the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. However, they are yet to beat Chicago this season, who, despite having an up-and-down campaign, bring their A-game against the league's best.

If they can do it tonight, the Bulls have a chance to improve to 3-0 against Milwaukee this season.

Keep their composure if they have a lead

The Bulls blew a 24-point lead against Indiana and lost 117-113 on Wednesday. The Pacers outscored the Bulls 75-55 in the second half—tied for the second-largest blown lead of the NBA season—handing the team their fifth straight loss.

Chicago blowing big leads is an alarming trait. The Bulls have lost 16+ points lead five times this season. They also blew a 21-point lead against the Pacers on January 24.

“I don’t want to use the word trend,” Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said after the game. “But what I would say is it’s something this group has to overcome. It’s an obstacle in front of us.”

Fast forward to today, and the Bulls keep facing the same obstacle. It cost them so many times thus far; hopefully, the same won't happen in their final game before the All-Star break.

Injury report

Chicago Bulls: Lonzo Ball (left knee injury), Javonte Green (right knee soreness), and Derrick Jones Jr. (left adductor strain) are out; DeMar DeRozan (hip injury) and Goran Dragic (left knee soreness) are probable

Milwaukee Bucks: Bobby Portis (sprained right knee), Pat Connaughton (left calf soreness), and Jae Crowder (return to competition reconditioning) are out; Giannis Antetokounmpo (right knee soreness) is probable

Noteworthy

The Bulls won the last meeting, 119-113, in overtime on December 28. DeRozan led the Bulls with 42 points.

Milwaukee beat Chicago three of the last five times.

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

Bucks’ projected lineup: Lopez, Antetokounmpo, Allen, Connaughton, Holiday

Bulls’ projected lineup: Vucevic, Williams, LaVine, Caruso, Dosunmu