Key contributors returning to the lineup could help the Chicago Bulls bounce back from a four-game losing streak as they head to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
Both Josh Giddey (sprained right ankle) and Coby White (strained right calf) are expected back on the court this week. Giddey is listed as probable against the Jazz, and White is listed as questionable.
For Chicago, getting back two players critical to their success might be enough to erase the struggles that came on the heels of a strong start to the season. The Bulls are certainly eager to not let a four-game skid grow into a much larger problem.
“We’ve got to come into games with the right mindset,” Bulls guard Kevin Huerter told the Chicago Sun-Times on Friday. “Our identity is playing fast, playing physical (and) wearing teams out.”
Giddey was enjoying a breakout year before his ankle sprain, averaging 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 9.3 assists in nine games. He has had success against the Jazz in recent years. Over his last 10 games against Utah, Giddey has averaged 15.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.2 assists per contest — including four double-doubles during that span.
White emerged as the Bulls’ primary scorer a year ago after the team traded Zach Lavine, averaging a career-best 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game.
The Bulls are searching for solutions after losing 124-113 on Wednesday to Detroit when the Pistons were playing without four starters.
“This is a highly competitive league, and I don’t think anyone is good enough just to show up and think they can step between the lines,” Chicago coach Billy Donovan told the Chicago Sun-Times after the loss to the Pistons. “You have to have incredible focus and be locked in to what’s going on. You have to be really, really desperate.”
Desperate is probably the right descriptor for Utah in its efforts to be better on defense.
The Jazz allowed 24 made 3-pointers and 51 percent shooting from the perimeter in a 132-122 loss to Atlanta on Thursday. Many of those perimeter shots from the Hawks met token resistance. It overshadowed strong efforts from Lauri Markkanen and Ace Bailey on the offensive side of things.
Markkanen finished with 40 points, his sixth game this season with 30 or more points. Bailey added a career-best 21 points.
Utah rallied to take a second-half lead after trailing by 18 points in the first half but simply ran out of gas in the fourth quarter.
“You know, tonight was just one of those nights in the NBA where you come out and you’re a half-step behind and the other team catches this great rhythm,” Jazz coach Will Hardy told the Deseret News after the game.
Utah split the season series with Chicago a year ago, but the Jazz have lost three straight at home to the Bulls.
