The Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings will square off in an early March tank-a-palooza matchup tonight (March 8) with both teams hoping to increase their odds at landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Who's in and who's out on an injury report that includes Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey and Keegan Murray?
Sacramento leads the way in the race for this year's top selection with a league-worst record of 14-50. If the season ended today, the Kings, along with the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets, would have a 14.0 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick in a draft loaded with franchise-saving prospects.
The Bulls got their tank started late after once again flirting with a play-in tournament spot. No matter how much they lose, it'll take a small miracle for Chicago to end up with one of the first few picks in June.
Though the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks needed similarly sized miracles, and that worked out for them, so who knows?
Anyway, that injury report...
Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis questionable for Bulls
Buzelis, who for the moment represents Chicago's best hope at a franchise savior, rolled his ankle in a March 3 contest with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giddey, arguably the Bulls' best player, did the same exact thing in the same exact game.
If head coach Billy Donovan is truly, stubbornly, frustratingly hoping to win as many games as possible the rest of this season, he'll need Buzelis and Giddey as close to 100 percent as possible.
As we creep closer to an 8 p.m. CT tip-off, however, both players remain game-time decisions.
Forwards Jalen Smith and Patrick Williams are also questionable for the Bulls.
More of the same for the Kings as they host Chicago
Sacramento won't be too unhappy with its injury situation, at least not privately.
Former Bulls star Zach LaVine is out for the year after undergoing surgery on his right hand shortly after the All-Star break. Domantas Sabonis and De'Andre Hunter, who would presumably be in the Kings' starting lineup alongside LaVine, will also miss the remainder of the season.
Franchise star Keegan Murray and pleasant surprise Dylan Cardwell will also be on the shelf for their team's encounter with the Bulls.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls at Sacramento Kings
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Noa Essengue (shoulder); Zach Collins (toe); Jaden Ivey (knee); Anfernee Simons (wrist); Mac McClung (G League)
Questionable: Matas Buzelis (ankle); Josh Giddey (ankle); Jalen Smith (calf); Patrick Williams (quadriceps)
Sacramento Kings
Out: Zach LaVine (hand); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Keegan Murray (ankle); Dylan Cardwell (ankle); De'Andre Hunter (eye); Isaiah Stevens (G League)