Chicago Bulls look for a bounce-back win vs. the Milwaukee Bucks

The Chicago Bulls (14-19) host the Milwaukee Bucks (22-11) tonight in their second season-matchup—the Bulls won the last meeting, 118-113, on November 23.

Lonzo Ball is still out with a left knee injury as the Bulls look to avoid their second straight loss following a 133-118 beatdown to the Houston Rockets. Javonte Green (right knee soreness) and Alex Caruso (concussion) are questionable; Derrick Jones Jr. (left ankle sprain) is listed as doubtful.

Milwaukee Bucks (22-11) vs. Chicago Bulls (14-19)

Wednesday, December 28 – 08:00 PM ET at United Center

Milwaukee Bucks

Points Per Game: 112.6 (17th of 30)
Opponent Points Per Game: 110.1 (6th of 30)
Bench Points Per Game: 32.4 (21st of 30)
Pace: 99.2 (16th of 30)
Offensive Rating: 112.8 (16th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 110.3 (5th of 30)
Net Rating: +2.5 (8th of 30)

Chicago Bulls

Points Per Game: 113.4 (16th of 30)
Opponent Points Per Game: 115.1 (19th of 30)
Bench Points Per Game: 32.5 (18th of 30)
Pace: 100.1 (11th of 30)
Offensive Rating: 112.3 (21st of 30)
Defensive Rating: 113.9 (19th of 30)
Net Rating: -1.6 (23rd of 30)

Contain Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez made a great impact for the Bucks on both ends of the court.

The Bucks' big man leads the NBA in blocks with 2.5 per game and is a serious contender to win the Defensive Player of the Year award—he's No.1 on the latest KIA Defensive Player Ladder.

Offensively, the 34-year-old has also been great; Lopez is shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from three-point range while averaging 14.9 points per game, the most since the 2016-17 season when he played for the Nets.

Aside from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook is a key piece for Milwaukee on both sides of the floor. Containing the Greek Freak will be hard; near impossible. But if the Bulls can reduce Lopez's impact on the game, adding another one to the win column becomes more probable.

The Bulls must play with urgency

The Bulls led the Rockets 65-64 at halftime on Monday, before allowing them to score 23 points in just under five minutes to take an 18-point lead in the third quarter.

"That's unacceptable," DeRozan said after the game. "That just comes with defensive effort, playing with toughness and a sense of urgency."

Both DeRozan and Zach LaVine admitted they underestimated the Rockets—this has become an ongoing issue for Chicago this season as they struggle to show up to "easy" games. However, playing the second-seeded Milwaukee is as good a challenge as the Bulls are going to get. That's why they have to play with the same sense of urgency and defensive commitment that led to a win in their last matchup.

"We can't feel out games. We gotta go out the gate and treat it like it's the fourth quarter. That's just how we have to play. We have to be more aware of that. We can't just expect to win because it's the Rockets, and it's a bunch of young guys over there," DeRozan explained.

Noteworthy

Milwaukee beat Chicago three of the last four times.

The Bulls are 2-8 in the last 10 matchups against the Bucks.

Bucks' projected lineup: Lopez, Antetokounmpo, Connaughton, Allen, Carter

Bulls' projected lineup: Vucevic, Williams, DeRozan, LaVine, Dosunmu