Keys to Chicago Bulls’ home game vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks beat the Bulls 113-99 in their last meeting on January 9.

© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls (10-14) host the Dallas Mavericks (13-12) tonight. They are coming off a 115-111 home win against the Wizards on Wednesday—DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic added 25 points apiece.

Lonzo Ball is still out with a left knee injury as the Bulls look to win their second straight game. Javonte Green (right knee soreness) is listed as questionable.

Dallas Mavericks (13-12) vs. Chicago Bulls (9-14)

Saturday, December 10 – 08:00 PM ET at United Center

Dallas Mavericks

• Points Per Game: 111.4 (18th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 108.6 (4th of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 39.8 (6th of 30)
• Pace: 95.9 (29th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 114.7 (7th of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 111.8 (9th of 30)
• Net Rating: +2.9 (8th of 30)

Chicago Bulls

• Points Per Game: 111.7 (16th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 112.8 (14th of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 31.8 (22nd of 30)
• Pace: 100.9 (8th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 110.2 (24th of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 111.3 (7th of 30)
• Net Rating: -1.1 (19th of 30)

Contain Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr. averaged 10.5 points per game on 31.4 percent shooting and 29.2 percent from beyond the arc as a reserve. The Mavericks wanted to get him back on track, so they inserted him into the starting lineup for the November 27 game against the Bucks. 

Since then, the 30-year-old has averaged 19.4 points and 3.7 rebounds on 47.8 percent shooting and 50 percent from three-point range in 28.9 minutes over seven games as a starter.

Hardaway Jr. is a key scorer for the Mavericks, and they’re tough to beat when he’s hitting his shots—he had 29 points on 6-of-8 from beyond the arc in Tuesday’s 116 to 115 road win against the Nuggets. However, the Bucks held him to just 8 points on 3-of-9 shooting when they beat the Mavericks 106-105 in Dallas last night. The Bulls will have to do the same in order to win this game.

Defend Dallas’ three-point shooting

The Mavericks rely heavily on outside shots. They made 17 of their 36 three-point attempts in the win against the Nuggets. Hardaway Jr. nailed six three-pointers, Dorian Finney-Smith drilled five, and Luka Doncic added four.

However, the three combined for 6-of-23 (26 percent) from beyond the arc against the Bucks last night. Overall, Dallas shot 13-of-40 (32.5 percent) from three-point range and still had the chance to steal the game against Milwaukee.

The Mavericks have enough firepower to beat any team in the league. However, they might be overly dependent on their outside shot. If the Bulls can contain Dallas' three-point shooting, they have a chance to pick up their 11th win on the season.

Noteworthy

• The Mavericks won the last meeting, 113-99, on January 9. LaVine and DeRozan led the Bulls with 20 points apiece.

• Chicago beat Dallas four of the last five times.

• The Bulls are 6-4 in the last 10 matchups against the Mavericks.

• Mavericks’ projected lineup: Doncic, Dinwiddie, Hardaway Jr., Finney-Smith, Powell

• Bulls’ projected lineup: Vucevic, Williams, DeRozan, LaVine, Caruso