The New York Knicks are in Chicago hoping to win back-to-back games for just the second time in February, while the Bulls will likely compete to win for the first time since Jan. 31 — even when logic dictates losing is the right idea.
Who's on the injury report for tonight's (Feb. 22) matchup at the United Center?
The Bulls are coming off a 126-110 home loss to the Detroit Pistons, owners of the best record in the NBA. Chicago's rag-tag roster full of guards has struggled to find its footing after the trade deadline, but don't let that fool you into believing coach Billy Donovan is ready to do anything but continue to play veterans, aim for wins, and fall short.
But that's about to be the NBA's new tanking reality anyway, right?
New York has won seven of its last 10 games and sits third in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the second-seeded Boston Celtics heading into play on Feb. 22.
All of this points to a fairly comfortable Knicks win.
Anfernee Simons out, two other newcomers on Bulls' injury report
Simons — the Bulls' leading scorer since arriving from Boston before the trade deadline — will miss Sunday's game after leaving the loss to Detroit with a wrist injury.
The 26-year-old is averaging 15.2 points in his six games with Chicago, but is shooting just 43.8 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from three on 8.3 attempts per game.
Jaden Ivey remains out with what the Bulls are calling left knee soreness. Ivey, who's struggled to regain his elite athleticism since breaking his leg in January of 2025, has been at the center of the franchise's "we're going to tank but not really tank but we should tank but we're going to play our veterans anyway and ignore the players we need to evaluate" strategy.
Patrick Williams and Nick Richards are new additions to Chicago's injury report.
McBride, Robinson out for Knicks
McBride, who's been a key piece in New York's guard rotation the last few seasons, remains out after undergoing core muscle surgery earlier this month. The 25-year-old could miss the rest of the regular season.
Mitchell Robinson will miss the second game of the Knicks' back-to-back as he deals with an ankle injury.
Full injury report for New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls
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)
Questionable: Nick Richards (foot)
Probable: Patrick Williams (hand)
New York Knicks
Out: Miles McBride (core); Mitchell Robinson (ankle); Pacome Dadiet (G League); Kevin McCullar Jr. (G League)