Bulls vs. Wizards game preview, injury report, lineups: Bulls looking to keep things fun

[Thanks to Walker for today’s game preview. -yfbb]

Game 28: Wizards (12-15) @ Bulls (14-13)

Game time: 7:00 PM on Comcast Sports Net

Previous Meeting: November 12, 2016 where the Bulls won by a score of 106-95 at home behind 37 points and 9 assists from Jimmy Butler. Both John Wall and Bradley Beal were out.

Injury Report:

Bulls-Michael Carter Williams-Out

Wizards-Ian Mahinmi-Out

Game Preview:

The Bulls have been playing .500 basketball for quite some time now as they sit at 14-13 now on the young season. The Wizards started awful as the stumbled out of the gate with a 3-9 start through twelve games but have been surging lately and have reached 12-15, so despite the records, this will be a very challenging game for this Bulls team.

We’re going to have a fun backcourt matchup in this game. John Wall and Bradley Beal will square off with Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, Wade must slow down Beal, who has been on a scoring tear as of late. In Beal’s last five games he has posted scoring totals of 22, 41, 25, 20, and 29. This matchup could prove paramount in a battle of fairly equally matched teams. John Wall is one of the best all around point guards in the game going up against Rajon Rondo. Rondo, who is not the best defender could be given fits. The backcourt battle will be important in determining the outcome of this game.

One spot where the Bulls have a clear advantage is at small forward where Jimmy Butler will square off with Otto Porter Jr. Porter is an up and coming player, but he is nowhere near as good as Jimmy Butler, Butler should have a huge game tonight against Washington.

The front court battle seems to favor the Bulls as well. Gortat might hold a slight advantage over Lopez, but Gibson should have his way with Markieff Morris. Gortat won’t be much of a threat scoring the basketball, but he pulls in lots of rebounds. Morris is more of a stretch four rather than a back to the basket player. Gibson shouldn’t be given lots of trouble by Morris.

Prediction:

The Wizards have been on fire despite losing to the Pacers by two points on Monday, but I don’t think that the backcourt for Washington will be dynamic enough for the Wizards in this game to pull out a win. Jimmy Butler will have a huge game and I think one of the front court player, perhaps Mirotic, off of the bench, or Lopez will have a big game. Bulls will win this one in a fairly close one.

Bulls by 7