Chicago Bulls: Lonzo Ball will be put to the test vs. Pelicans

Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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In his first matchup against his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans, new Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball will get to face a number of his recent teammates. Lonzo and the Bulls are set to square off against the star forward duo of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram with the Pelicans. This will be the second preseason game for the Bulls.

Lonzo spent two seasons with the Pelicans before he was shipped off to Chicago in a big-time sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls roughly two months ago. The Bulls landed Lonzo in a sign-and-trade deal with the Pelicans in which combo guard Tomas Satoransky, veteran shooting guard Garrett Temple, and some future draft capital was shipped off to NOLA.

And in his first game with the Bulls, Lonzo unsurprisingly looked like a great fit with this starting unit. While it was only the preseason opener, in a win at home back on Oct. 5 over the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was a good sign to start things off for him.

But now the Bulls have a meeting with the Pelicans in their second preseason outing, which will mean a little bit more than the opener against the Cavaliers. On the night of Oct. 8, the Bulls will host the Pelicans at home at the United Center in what will be Lonzo’s first game against his former team.

Chicago Bulls and Lonzo Ball set to face his former team on Oct. 8

And it won’t take long for Lonzo to face the Pelicans in the regular season for the first time for him in a Bulls uniform. In the home opener on Oct. 22 at home at the United Center, the Bulls are set to host Zion and the Pelicans.

Moreover, since the Bulls have a couple of key meetings with the Pelicans this month in the preseason and regular season, it is important for Lonzo to get off on the right foot. A good game in this preseason matchup with the Pelicans could help build Lonzo’s confidence before these two teams meet in the regular season on Oct. 22.

In this preseason meeting with the Pelicans, there could be a number of key players missing for both sides. If the Pelicans do have the likes of Ingram, Williamson, and newly acquired point guard Devonte’ Graham ready to go against the Bulls, this could make for an interesting matchup.

Yet, it looks like Zion could be out for the Pelicans on Oct. 8. There’s no guarantee either that Ingram and/or Graham will be ready to go for the Pelicans in this game.

This game could still see Lonzo matched up with Sato, guard Josh Hart, and/or point guard Kira Lewis. Even shooting guard/wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker could be the matchup for Lonzo in this meeting with the Pelicans.

Either way, this will be important to watch how Lonzo does defensively against his former team to potentially get an indication of how the home opener will play out for him. You can never put too much stock into a preseason performance, but this should still hold some meaning for Lonzo to get to face the Pels this early in the preseason.

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The Bulls will carry a record of 1-0 into this Oct. 8 meeting with the Pels, coming off their dominant 36-point win over the Cavs in the preseason opener. Tip-off time between the Bulls and Pels is set for 7 p.m. CT on Oct. 8 in Chicago.