Struggling Eastern Conference rivals collide on Friday night, as the Brooklyn Nets host the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center.
The Bulls (19–21, 9th East) have won two of their last three, punctuated by Wednesday’s narrow home victory over the Jazz. The Nets (11–27, 13th East), meanwhile, have dropped eight of their last nine and enter on a five-game skid, capped by a Wednesday night loss in New Orleans.
The teams first played on Dec. 3 in Chicago, where the Nets rolled to a 113–103 victory. They’ll return to the Windy City after Friday’s contest for another matchup on Sunday night.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Chicago Bulls
- Out: Josh Giddey (Hamstring), Zach Collins (Toe), Noa Essengue (Shoulder)
- Questionable: Julian Phillips (Wrist)
- Probable: Kevin Huerter (Hip)
Brooklyn Nets
- Out: Haywood Highsmith (Knee), Ben Saraf (G League Assignment), Ziaire Williams (Ramp Up)
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Brooklyn enters as a slight 1.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Chicago sits as a +105 underdog. The game’s total is set at 225.5 points.
Bulls vs. Nets Preview
Chicago Bulls Preview
The Bulls have had to completely reinvent themselves in the absence of do-it-all guard Josh Giddey, who strained his hamstring at the end of December. The 23-year-old playmaker averaged 19.2 points, nine assists, and 8.9 rebounds per game before his injury, leaving the team with a significant void to fill.
Surprisingly, they’ve stepped up to the challenge. Chicago is 4–4 since Giddey hit the sidelines, owning one of the NBA’s top-ten offenses in that span. Veteran big man Nikola Vucevic is averaging a 20-point double-double as the new crux of the Bulls’ offense, while Matas Buzelis, Ayo Dosunmu, and Tre Jones have helped recreate Giddey’s production in the aggregate.
Brooklyn Nets Preview
For some reason, the Nets were really good in December, owning the NBA’s third-best net rating while boasting a league-best defense throughout the calendar month. However, Brooklyn has since regressed back to the mean — returning to its rightful place near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Despite a career-best season from Michael Porter Jr., who’s scoring 25.7 points a night, the Nets rank 26th in offensive rating and average the NBA’s fewest points per game. Cam Thomas has been strong since his return from injury, but Brooklyn’s ball movement has completely stalled and failed to produce quality looks.
Bulls vs. Nets Pick, Best Bet
While the Bulls aren’t competing with the NBA’s upper echelon in Josh Giddey’s absence, they’ve handled business against the bottom-feeders of the league. They now have an opportunity to beat up on a Nets squad that’s currently suffering a severe holiday hangover. Don’t be shocked if Chicago pulls off an upset in Brooklyn on Friday night.
