The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls have come out of the All-Star break meaning business. Both teams have played some excellent basketball since the layoff as they battle for their playoff lives in the East. Unfortunately, one of these teams will have to take a slight step back after their face-off in the Windy City on Wednesday.
Who will emerge victorious in this battle of Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls? Read on with our preview below. Meanwhile, check out more of Wednesday’s top NBA hoops action with our previews of the Warriors vs. Heat and Thunder vs. Mavs.
The Washington Wizards have started the second half of their 2015-16 NBA season on the right foot. The Wiz have gone 3-1 in their first four games post-All-Star break. Their latest win was arguably their most impressive as they blew out the New Orleans Pelicans, 109-89, at home.
John Wall’s mini-shooting slump continues as he went just 5-of-17 for the second-straight game. However, he did still finish with a nice triple-double (16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists), his second this month.
Meanwhile, Jared Dudley had 18 points on six three-pointers to offset an off-night from Bradley Beal (nine points, 3-of-10 FG), who had been averaging 17 PPG post-ASG.
Wall also didn’t shoot very well in Washington’s first meeting with Chicago this season – he went 7-of-19 – but he still had 17 points to lead seven Wizards in double-figures in a 114-100 win.
That win was another in a long line of Washington’s recent successes in the Windy City. The Wizards are 6-1 in their last seven visits to Chicago, and are 9-1 ATS in their last 10.
Marcin Gortat is having an excellent month of February – 16 PPG and 10 RPG on 60% FG in just under 30 minutes – and should be the main beneficiary if the Bulls are without yet another key frontcourt player in this game.
After entering the All-Star break on a horrendous four-game losing skid, Chicago has bounced back in a big way over the past two games. The Bulls, who are a mediocre 16th in the NBA in scoring (101.8 points per game), have exploded for 116 and 126 points in recent wins over the Raptors and Lakers.
Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol have been playing at an All-Star level post-All-Star break. Rose is averaging 26 PPG in his last three, while Pau is adding 17 points and nine rebounds. Gasol, though, is battling an illness and will be a game-time decision to play against the Wizards.
But even if Gasol does miss out, the Bulls have players to fill the Spaniard’s spot in the lineup. Rookie Bobby Portis is putting up 12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in his last four, while Doug McDermott (46 points and seven threes in his last two games) has been instant offense off the bench.
McDermott is a big reason why the Bulls have shot a blistering 20-of-35 (57 percent) from beyond the arc over the last two games. Chicago should be able to keep up that sizzling shooting against a Wizards team that is dead last in the league at defending the three-point line this season (38 percent).
Writer’s Prediction
The Wizards have enough weapons to eke out another win over Chicago, 106-103.
