Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks - GAME DAY PREVIEW

Can the Bulls end their slump on Thursday?

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Another day brings another tough test for the Chicago Bulls as one of the East’s beasts, the Milwaukee Bucks, visit the United Center in Chicago for their second match-up of the season. Chicago has been in an extended slump of late. They have lost eight of their last nine games to stand with a 5-14 record, which puts them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

Can the Bulls finally get a win?

The last time these two teams met saw the Bucks emerge victorious, 118-109. The Bucks got a fast start and led 35-18 after the first. Although the Bulls recovered and took the lead in the third, their poor shooting (38%) eventually did them in.

Two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points and 11 rebounds in that Bucks win.

Injury woes

As if the Bulls needed any more problems, they must now deal with injuries three of their best players suffered. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso are all considered questionable to play due to various ailments.

LaVine has a sore right foot that caused him to miss the recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The same sore foot (and perhaps the Boston Celtics’ sheer domination of the Bulls) was also why he exited in the third period of their last game against the Celtics.

Meanwhile, DeRozan was also unable to finish the match against the Celtics because of an ankle injury. Caruso is dealing with a sprained toe that was recently aggravated when his teammate, Coby White, stepped on it.