Despite not reaching the Knockout Rounds of the 2024 NBA Cup, this year's iteration of the in-season tournament should be considered a success. A year ago, the Chicago Bulls went winless, losing all four contests by an average of 12.0 points. The Bulls mustered a league-low 102.3 points per game in last season's in-season tournament.
Chicago went 2-2 in this season's NBA Cup, defeating the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards and losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. Chicago finished with a positive-6-point differential, a vast improvement over last season's minus-48.
The Bulls' exciting offense was on full display in four in-season tournament games. Chicago averaged a league-high 129.5 points per game. The Bulls lead the NBA in field goal percentage and ranked third in three-point marksmanship. Despite the impressive offensive numbers, the Bulls' porous defense was exposed—leading to the two losses. Chicago allowed a league-worst 128.0 points and forced only 11.8 turnovers per game, second-worst in the NBA.
Surprisingly enough, the two opponents Chicago lost to will not be competing in the Knockout Rounds of the NBA Cup. Boston finished second in Group C, while Cleveland finished third. Certainly a surprise, considering the Celtics and Cavs possess the best records in the NBA. It was the Hawks who came out of Group C, going 3-1, only losing to Chicago. The Hawks will face the winner of Group A, the New York Knicks, on December 11.
Chicago's newest opponents are Charlotte and Toronto
Instead of remaining idle during the Knockout Rounds, two games were added to the Bulls' schedule in lieu of the advanced stages of the NBA Cup. It was announced Chicago will take on the Charlotte Hornets at 7:00 p.m. CT on December 13 and the Toronto Raptors at 6:30 p.m. CT, three days later on December 16.
Bulls two games added to original 80-game schedule after not advancing to NBA Cup knockout stage:
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 4, 2024
Dec. 13 vs. Hornets, 7 pm
Dec. 16 at Raptors, 6:30 pm
Following Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bulls will only play four games over the next two weeks. Attention will be shifted to the NBA Cup, as only 16 NBA games will occur from December 9 to December 13 before the Semifinals are held on Saturday, December 14, and the Championship on December 17.
The Bulls were given a lucky draw playing against Charlotte and Toronto. Their December slate includes a back-to-back against the reigning champion Boston Celtics before a game against the upstart Hawks sandwiched between games versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
Chicago will likely take on the Hornets without their best player, LaMelo Ball, who suffered a left calf strain on November 27. Charlotte has expectedly gone winless since Ball went down. While the battle in Toronto won't be a cakewalk, the Raptors are currently 7-15 with the sixth-worst record in the NBA.