The Sixers and Bulls play the back half of a two-game set Wednesday in the Windy City. The Bulls won the first game of the set on Monday, prevailing 109-105 in double overtime in Philly.
The Sixers are 48-23 while the Bulls are 34-37 on the year. The Bulls have taken 2 out of 3 from the Sixers this season. The game will start at 8:00 p.m. EDT tonight at Chicago’s United Center.
The latest injury update for Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls’ chances of making the play-in tournament have improved as they have won three consecutive games and five of their last six.
The Bulls defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 109-105 in double overtime on Monday and will look to build on that victory and sweep the home-and-home series against the 76ers on Wednesday.
The Chicago Bulls’ season has been full of ups and downs, but their recent win streak has propelled them to the top 10 of the Eastern Conference, where they currently sit two games ahead of the Washington Wizards as of Tuesday’s games.
On Monday, the Bulls were led by Zach LaVine’s 26 points, followed by DeMar DeRozan’s 25 points.
DeMar DeRozan played all 46 minutes and finished with 25 points (10-22 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, and 1 block.
The 33-year-old forward has scored more than 20 points in five straight games and eight of nine in March, averaging 27.8 points, 6.1 boards, 5.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.3 threes on the month while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor and a surprising 44.4 percent (12-for-27) from long distance.
DeRozan is putting together a stretch of strong play as the Bulls try to make the play-in tournament.
If the Bulls beat the 76ers on Wednesday, they’ll win the season series. Since the 2016–17 season, Chicago hasn’t swept the season series against Philadelphia.
On Monday, Chicago greeted Javonte Green’s return to action by putting him back into the starting lineup. The small forward returned to action for the first time since Dec. 31 after undergoing knee surgery, playing for nine minutes.
While also snapping Philadelphia’s eight-game winning streak, Chicago on Monday prevented the 76ers from clinching a playoff berth.
Joel Embiid, a candidate for NBA Most Valuable Player, had another great game for the 76ers on Monday. He scored 37 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and blocked three shots for the victors.
Thanks in large part to Embiid’s recent performance, the Sixers are right in the thick of things in the race for the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
The MVP frontrunner has scored 30 or more points in 10 consecutive games, averaging 36.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.1 threes per game while shooting 61.3 percent from the field and 42.3 percent (11-for-26) from beyond the arc during that span.
Embiid’s loss to the Bulls on Monday was his first in 13 career meetings with the team. On January 6, the team lost 126-112 at home to Chicago without him.
James Harden was listed out for rest purposes Sunday in the second game of a back-to-back set, but this time it’s an Achilles, and it’s not a back-to-back for the Sixers.
Harden had a hard time, and Philadelphia only got five points from him on two of fourteen shots.
76ers injuries:
- James Harden (Achilles) – Questionable
- P.J. Tucker (Ankle) – Questionable
Bulls injuries:
- Javonte Green (Knee) – Questionable
- Alex Caruso (Foot) – Questionable
- Lonzo Ball (Knee) – Out for the season
- Justin Lewis (Knee) – Out for the season
