The Chicago Bulls still have an excellent chance to finish the regular season on a high note despite seeing their momentum slowed by back-to-back losses.
The Bulls (33-42) will continue their battle for a higher playoff seed with a matchup against the visiting Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. Chicago has a favorable schedule down the stretch, with six of its final seven opponents under .500.
While Toronto (28-47) has won four straight games, Chicago is looking to bounce back from a 145-117 road loss to the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
The Bulls trailed 74-40 at the half and began resting their starters late in the third quarter. The loss dropped Chicago to 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the last play-in spot.
‘‘There’s disappointment whenever you lose by such a big margin,” Bulls center Nikola Vucevic said. ‘‘You never want to lose by 30 in a game and play the way we played, so, sure, there’s disappointment. But in the NBA, you can’t be disappointed too long or happy too long. We’ve had a really good stretch, and now we’ve lost two in a row and have to regroup.”
Chicago guard Josh Giddey had 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in 28 minutes in the loss to his former team. Guard Kevin Huerter sat out with a sprained right thumb and other minor injuries.
“He’s just been dealing with stuff,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said of Huerter. “He had a thing with his finger, and it’s been a bit of a problem. It’s probably more to protect that, some load management and some time, quite honestly. The hope is he’ll be back (Tuesday), but he’s been beat up. I think medical just felt it was good to rest him.”
Chicago is aiming for a season sweep of Toronto after winning the first three meetings, including 125-115 in overtime at home on Feb. 28.
Coby White is averaging 20.8 points in his last five games against Toronto, which beat the host Philadelphia 76ers 127-109 on Sunday.
RJ Barrett scored 31 points and Ja’Kobe Walter added 17 for the Raptors, who have won 10 of their last 15 games.
The rebuilding Raptors will rest Barrett and Ochai Agbaji against Chicago as the team continues to look toward the future.
Toronto has given its young players an extended look in recent weeks. The rookie quartet of Walter, Jamison Battle, Jonathan Mogbo and Jamal Shead all scored in double digits on Sunday.
“We’re focusing on things that are controllable, staying positive and upbeat with the players, trusting our work and our vision,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “This is year one of our rebuild. We’re really trying to find out who can be part of our team and who’s growing with our team.”
Rajakovic will be a key part of the Raptors’ efforts moving forward after the team reportedly extended his contract through 2026-27.
“We are here in this together,” Rajakovic told Sportsnet. “We know that this is a process. Obviously, I have utmost respect and trust in our front office and what we’re trying to build over here. And I think we are good partners. We’re trying to help each other in every possible way.”
–Field Level Media
