Keys to Chicago Bulls’ home game vs. Golden State Warriors

Zach LaVine and the Bulls will try to avoid their fourth straight loss when they host the Warriors

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls (19-24) host the Golden State Warriors (21-21) tonight. The Bulls are coming off a disappointing 124-110 home loss against the Thunder on Friday. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Nikola Vucevic added 19 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in the setback.

Lonzo Ball is still out with a left knee injury as the Bulls look to avoid losing their fourth straight game. Javonte Green (right knee soreness) and Tony Bradley (non-COVID illness) are also out. DeMar DeRozan (right quad strain) is listed as questionable, and Zach LaVine (right-hand contusion) is probable.

Golden State Warriors (21-21) vs. Chicago Bulls (19-24)

Sunday, January 15 – 03:30 PM ET at United Center

Golden State Warriors

• Points Per Game: 117.3 (5th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 117.6 (26th of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 38 (8th of 30)
• Pace: 102.4 (1st of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 113.7 (15th of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 114 (17th of 30)
• Net Rating: -0.3 (18th of 30)

Chicago Bulls

• Points Per Game: 114.1 (14th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 115.1 (18th of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 31.1 (23rd of 30)
• Pace: 99.5 (14th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 113.4 (18th of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 114.3 (22nd of 30)
• Net Rating: -1 (22nd of 30)

Contain Jordan Poole

Key reserves, including Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II, Nemanja Bjelica, and Juan Toscano-Anderson, are gone, which hurt the Warriors' bench depth. However, their reserves, led by Jordan Poole, still rank eighth in the league with 38 points per game. Poole signed a four-year, $140 million extension in the offseason, and he's the X-factor for the Warriors.

The 23-year-old guard had 25 points, six assists, and three rebounds on Friday's 144-113 road win against the Spurs, and he's scored 21 points or more in nine of his last 10 games, averaging 26.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 34.5 minutes in that span. If the Bulls contain Poole, they have a better shot at winning this game.

Force turnovers and take care of the ball

Turnovers have been an area of concern for the Warriors. Golden State averages 16.7 turnovers per game, second-most in the league behind Houston (16.9). The Warriors force 15 turnovers per game (10th-most in the NBA), which doesn't compensate for how bad they're at taking care of the ball.

The Warriors have 700 total turnovers, just eight fewer than the Rockets, and only the Rockets, Jazz, and Timberwolves have turned the ball over more times than them, which is concerning.

The Bulls are reeling, but they do a better job taking care of the ball, and they're an elite team forcing turnovers. They turn the ball over 13.7 times per game (seventh in the NBA) and rank 13th in the league, forcing 14.8 turnovers per game.

Noteworthy

• The Warriors won the last meeting, 119-111 on December 2. Vucevic led the Bulls with 23 points.

• The Bulls are 0-10 in the last 10 matchups against the Warriors.

• Warriors' projected lineup: Looney, Green, Wiggins, Thompson, Curry

• Bulls' projected lineup: Vucevic, Williams, LaVine, Dosunmu, Caruso

• Injury Report: Jonathan Kuminga (right foot sprain), James Wiseman (sprained left ankle), JaMychal Green (lower right leg infection), and Andre Iguodala (right hip soreness) are out for the Warriors.

• Lonzo Ball is out for the Bulls with a left knee injury. Javonte Green (right knee soreness) and Tony Bradley (non-COVID illness) will also miss this game. DeMar DeRozan (right quad strain) is questionable, and Zach LaVine (right-hand contusion) is listed as probable.