Nikola Vucevic will lead Chicago into a matchup against his former team of the Orlando Magic. The Bulls are coming off a great game against the Washington Wizards 120-119. Last night, the Magic suffered their first loss in 2022 against the Boston Celtics.
Keys To Bulls Getting Home Win
Get Lonzo Ball Some Touches
Ball is set to return tonight against the Magic after dealing with COVID-19. After tonight’s game, Chicago won’t play until Friday. So the Bulls must get some touches to Ball to get back in rhythm. In his first year in Chicago, the UCLA guard is averaging 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.
Chicago in nine days will take on a big test against Brooklyn and two days after that against the Warriors. With this game being against a 7-win team, this is the perfect game for Ball to get back to the way he was playing before he entered the NBA’s protocols.
Get Early Start
Orlando is playing the second game of their back-to-back games, but last night went into OT. The Magic will come out and be tired, so the Bulls need to come out and get hot early and take demand of the game in the first quarter. Their biggest first-quarter advantage in Chicago’s last three games was two points.
The last time the Bulls won the first quarter by more than two points was against the Indiana Pacers on December 26th. They won the quarter 33-27, which resulted in a way that tonight 113-105.
Don’t Get Too Comfortable
The Magic are entering tonight with the second-worst record in the NBA and haven’t won since December 22nd. Chicago has struggled shooting in their last two games, but they have MVP candidate DeMar DeRozan. The Bulls must not fall asleep and let Orlando stay in the game, especially in the fourth quarter.
During the Bulls, seven-game win streak, four wins have been within 10 points. But Chicago, in their seven-game win streak, Chicago has been averaging 121.4 points, shooting 51.1% from the field and 45.5% from the three-point line.
Injury Report
Bulls
| Player | Status | Injury |
| Lonzo Ball | Active | Conditioning |
| Javonte Green | Questionable | Groin |
| Alex Caruso | Out | Foot |
| Tyler Cook | Out | Ankle |
| Marko Simonovic | Out | NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols |
| Alfonzo McKinnie | Out | NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols |
| Tony Bradley | Out | NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols |
| Patrick Williams | Out | NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols |
Magic
| Player | Status | Injury |
| Moritz Wagner | Questionale | Non-COVID illness |
| Chuma Okeke | Out | Conditioning |
| Cole Anthony | Out | Ankle |
| Markelle Fultz | Out | Knee, NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols |
| Robin Lopez | Out | NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols |
| Jalen Suggs | Out | Right Thumb |
| E’Twaun Moore | Out | Knee |
| BJ Johnson | Out | NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols |
| Michael Carter-Williams | Out | Ankle |
| Jonathan Isaac | Out | Left ACL |
Game Prediction
Chicago will have no issues tonight against the Magic. These teams know they can’t lose their winning streak against a rebuilding magic team. Expect Lonzo Ball to get active defensively and get involved in the first quarter on offense.
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