Bulls vs. Bucks: Series schedule, TV coverage

The Chicago Bulls face the Milwaukee Bucks in a first-round matchup in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Chicago Bulls face the Milwaukee Bucks in a first-round matchup in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The series tips off on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET in Chicago on ESPN.

The Bulls won 50 games to earn the No. 3 seed, while the Bucks claimed the No. 6 seed with 41 wins. Chicago won three of the four regular season meetings between the Central Division rivals.

After playing in just 10 games over the last two seasons, Bulls point guard Derrick Rose played in 51 games this season, averaging 17.7 points and 4.9 assists. He returned from meniscus surgery late in the regular season. Jimmy Butler led the team in scoring at 20 points per game and is a leading candidate for the Most Improved Player award. Pau Gasol averaged 18.5 points and a team-best 11.8 rebounds.

In their first season under head coach Jason Kidd, the Bucks improved from a league-worst 15-67 record last season to earn a playoff spot. The Bucks traded leading scorer Brandon Knight at the trade deadline and went on to lose 18 of their last 29 games.

Bucks co-owner Jamie Dinan trash talked Bulls fans ahead of the series, telling them not to bother making the trip up to Milwaukee for Games 3 and 4.