After a loss Tuesday to the Detroit Pistons, the Chicago Bulls look to get back on track Thursday night against the team with the second best record in the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs.
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The Bulls played an up and down game in the Palace of Auburn Hills, which ended in a 102-91 loss to the Pistons. After being down double digits in the first half, Chicago led by four with 10 minutes left in the contest, before falling apart.
The loss dropped to the Bulls to 11-10, leaving near the bottom of the current playoff standings -less than three games separate 11th place from third in the East.
Chicago helped prove that playing four games in five nights makes it nearly impossible for most NBA teams to get a win. Losers of three straight, the Bulls will be hungry for a win tonight at home on national television.
Fred Hoiberg’s team should be well rested, and at almost full strength as Doug McDermott is set to make his return after missing the nearly a month with a concussion. The bad news for Chicago is that the Spurs will be rested as well.
San Antonio is coming off a win in Minnesota Tuesday against the Timberwolves, pushing their road record to a league best 13-0. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili did not play against Tom Thibodeau’s guys. But Parker is still a game time decision with a left knee contusion.
13-0 away from home!@spurs lead the entire league when it comes to Field Goal Percentage on the road. https://t.co/BWYRhofCjt#GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/GH3XjE0Jxs
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 7, 2016
Pau Gasol returns to Chicago tonight for the first time since he signed a 2-year, $30 million contract with the Spurs last summer. The Spaniard is averaging 11.4 points per game and 6 rebounds.
A rare scheduling quirk will see the Bulls play the second game of TNT’s Thursday night double-header at home, with an 8:30p.m. tip off at the United Center.
The Spurs are 18-4, and are the better basketball team right now. But prime time games seem to bring out the best in the Chicago. Under Hoiberg, the Bulls seem to show up and show out against the NBA’s big boys.
Now, here are three things to look for in tonight’s game.