The Chicago Bulls are aiming for their third straight win as they head to Washington to face the struggling Wizards on Wednesday.
The Bulls are coming off a 115-108 overtime victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Coby White led the charge with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, helping the Bulls outscore Charlotte 17-10 in overtime after the Hornets hit a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.
Zach LaVine, who missed Monday’s win due to a toe injury, is the team’s top scorer with 22 points per game and is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game.
The Bulls’ previous win came on Saturday, when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 116-111 in a thrilling game at home. White hit a go-ahead jumper with 31 seconds left, and the Bulls sealed the win with free throws.
White has been a key contributor, averaging 18 points per game this season, after posting a career-high 19.1 points per game last year.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan praised White’s development, saying his ability to impact games in different ways has been key to his growth.
“His defense has gotten better. He finds ways to rebound, come up with loose basketballs, get assists. He’s doing a lot of different things,” Donovan said.
Nikola Vucevic has been consistent for the Bulls, averaging 20.6 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The Wizards, on the other hand, are struggling, having lost their last two games to the New York Knicks. They fell 136-132 in overtime on Saturday and 126-106 on Monday.
In Saturday’s game, Justin Champagnie scored a career-high 31 points, but the Wizards couldn’t stop Jalen Brunson’s 55-point performance.
On Monday, the Wizards’ offense was more in line with their season’s struggles, with Jonas Valanciunas leading the way with 22 points off the bench. Only two starters, Alexandre Sarr and Malcolm Brogdon, scored in double figures.
Jordan Poole, the Wizards’ top scorer with 21.3 points per game, missed the last two games due to a hip injury. He is listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game. Kyle Kuzma returned to the lineup on Monday after missing time with a rib injury, scoring 9 points in 21 minutes.
“We need everybody,” Valanciunas said. “It’s good to see Kuzma back and hopefully, he’s not going to go down again.”
