The Washington Wizards return home Friday night to take on the Chicago Bulls where they’ve won 6 of their last 7 games.
Not since the 2011-12 season have the Washington Wizards lost a season series to the Chicago Bulls. The Wizards are desperate for a win since they can never get it done on the road and the Bulls are the perfect team rebound against.
During their time at home, Washington is scoring 113.1 points per 100 possessions. What’s even more impressive is that they actually play defense at home holding their opponents to 107.5 points per 100 possessions.
Let’s take a look at the game details below.
Game Info
Game: Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls
When: Friday, December 28
Where: Capital One Arena
TV: NBC Sports Washington, Fubo TV
Tip-Off Time: 7 pm Eastern Time
Injury Report
Wizards: Dwight Howard (Lumbar microdisectomy procedure-Out) Otto Porter (Right knee strain/confusion-Out)
Bulls: Bobby Portis (Right Ankle Sprain-Out), Denzel Valentine (Left Ankle Surgery-Out)
Projected Starting Lineup
Wizards: G-John Wall, G-Bradley Beal, F-Trevor Ariza, F-Jeff Green, C-Thomas Bryant
Bulls: G-Ryan Arcidiacono, G-Zach LaVine, F-Justin Holiday, F-Lauri Markkanen, C-Wendell Carter Jr.
Prediction
The Bulls have lost 13 of their last 17 games. Normally this would seem like an easy victory, but the Wizards will somehow make it difficult for themselves.
John Wall and Bradley Beal have been dominant at home. Wall is averaging 25.8 points per game and Beal is producing 24.0 points per game. For them to have success against the Bulls (and any other team) the All-Star backcourt will both need to have productive nights.
It’s not a shocker that the Wizards are falling further and further behind in the playoff race with their poor defensive and rebounding performances. With a record of 13-22, Washington must find a way to start clicking otherwise they are doomed for one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
These next three games against the Bulls, Hornets, and Hawks will be critical in turning the ship around. They MUST win all 3 matchups to gain any type of momentum and they should for that matter since they are all sub .500 teams.
All signs point to Washington dominating this game especially with the way they perform at home. However, something tells me this game will be closer than anticipated since the Wizards tend to play down to their opponents.
Final Score: CHI- 98, WSH – 110