Game 9: at Philadelphia 76ers (Jan. 17)
Another tough test for the Chicago Bulls on the road this month. The Sixers are by no means going to roll over easy for the Bulls. Superstar center Joel Embiid is finally back healthy and productive, and point guard Ben Simmons is vying for yet another All-Star selection.
The Sixers finally get themselves some outside shooting help too, by signing free agent point guard Darren Collison. There’s not many games that see the Bulls get so far behind in the third quarter as this one. The Sixers get a 30-point lead five minutes into the second half and never look back.
Score Prediction: Sixers 126, Bulls 101 (Record 17-26)
Game 10: Cleveland Cavaliers (Jan. 18)
Once again, the Bulls catch a break with their back end of back-to-back games during the month of January. The Bulls get to face the divisional foe Cleveland Cavaliers as they reach double-digit games played since the turn of the calendar year. And the Cavaliers are starting to slip up even further as the Kevin Love trade rumors continue to surface.
Here the Bulls trade another set of wins during back-to-back games to stay afloat in the playoff race in the East. This game sees Lauri and WCJ come up with big outings, combining for 35 points and 22 rebounds. WCJ also comes up with a season-high six blocks to lock down on Tristan Thompson in the Cavs frontcourt.