COLUMBUS vs CHICAGO
When: 1/31/2021 7:00 PM
Where:

TV: 7:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , COLUMBUS

Oddsmakers currently have the COLUMBUS listed as -145-moneyline favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will go for their third win in a row when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

The game will mark the second time in three days that the teams have played each other. In the opener of a two-game set Friday night, Columbus held on for a 2-1 win behind goals from Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eric Robinson.

The Blackhawks planned to practice Saturday between games, but they called off the practice session because of possible exposure to COVID-19. The team later announced that forward Ryan Carpenter and defenseman Nicolas Beaudin had been added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list, increasing the tally to five Chicago players on the list.

Carpenter and Beaudin played Friday against the Blue Jackets. Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat, defenseman Adam Boqvist and forward Lucas Wallmark remain on the list.

Players can be placed on the list if they test positive for the coronavirus, have shown symptoms or had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

“The Chicago Blackhawks organization has, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines to protect the health and safety of players and staff as set by the NHL as well as local and state agencies,” the Blackhawks said in a statement. “The Blackhawks will not comment further at this time and information on Sunday’s schedule will be announced at a later time.”

If the game goes on as scheduled, Chicago will have to find a way to solve Columbus’ goaltending. Joonas Korpisalo shined in Friday’s opener, stopping 31 of 32 shots to improve to 2-1-2 with a 2.17 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage.

The Blue Jackets’ other option in net, Elvis Merzlikins, is 2-1-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .906 save percentage on the season.

“I like the way it’s worked out,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. “The schedule, I think, forces it this way, and we’re very fortunate to have the two goalies that we do have.”

The Blackhawks have not enjoyed the same level of success in net, but rookie Kevin Lankinen has emerged recently to grab control of the No. 1 role. The 25-year-old is 2-1-2 with a 2.16 GAA and .930 save percentage on the season, which is notably better than teammates Collin Delia (0-2-0, 5.00, .863) and Malcolm Subban (0-1-1, 3.95, .889).

Lankinen’s solid play has been squandered by a quiet Blackhawks offense, which has four goals in the last three games.

“We want to score more, for sure,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “We’re creating chances. We’re generating more in the offensive zone than we have in the past. (The) transition chances I feel will be there with the group we have.

“(But we’re) missing a little bit of execution when we have the opportunity off the rush. Just not quite finishing, not quite making that last pass. But I believe that will come, too.”

The Blue Jackets, who have eight goals in their past three games, are led by Bjorkstrand with eight points (three goals, five assists) in his first nine games. Alexandre Texier is second on the scoring list with six points (four goals, two assists).

Patrick Kane leads the Blackhawks with eight points (three goals, five assists) in nine contests.

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NEW ORLEANS vs CHICAGO
When: 2/10/2021 9:00 PM
Where: United Center, Chicago

TV: 9:00 PM
LINE: Pelicans -3
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , NEW ORLEANS

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 3 point favorites versus the NEW ORLEANS, while the game’s total is sitting at 231.

The Bulls are 3-8 on their home court. Chicago is sixth in the Eastern Conference shooting 37.4% from deep, led by Zach LaVine shooting 40.9% from 3-point range.

The Pelicans are 4-7 on the road. New Orleans ranks eighth in the Western Conference giving up only 111.8 points while holding opponents to 45.6% shooting.

The Bulls and Pelicans square off Wednesday for the first time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Coby White leads the Bulls with 5.3 assists and scores 14.9 points per game. LaVine is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers and 28 points over the last 10 games for Chicago.

Brandon Ingram leads the Pelicans averaging 23.8 points and is adding 5.5 rebounds. Zion Williamson is shooting 60.2% and averaging 23.7 points over the last 10 games for New Orleans.

LAST 10 GAMES:

Bulls: 4-6, averaging 111.4 points, 43.4 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.2 points on 47.2% shooting.

Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 118.9 points, 46.3 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.9 points on 45.6% shooting.

INJURIES:

Bulls: Chandler Hutchison: out indefinitely (personal), Wendell Carter Jr.: out (quad), Lauri Markkanen: out (shoulder), Otto Porter Jr.: day to day (back).

Pelicans: None listed.

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans will attempt to prolong its four-game win streak with a victory against Chicago.

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WASHINGTON vs CHICAGO
When: 2/8/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , WASHINGTON

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 238.5.

Zach LaVine helped the Chicago Bulls quickly flip the script against the Orlando Magic.

A day after LaVine — despite finishing with 26 points — scored only two points over the first three quarters during a 123-119 loss to the Magic, he finished with 39 points on 16-for-25 shooting in a 118-92 win on Saturday.

“(Coach Billy Donovan) wanted us to go out there and try to blow these guys out. Message received,” LaVine said. “I think the way that we played definitely represented what he wanted us to do.”

LaVine, who is averaging 27.0 points, will clash with the NBA’s top scorer in Bradley Beal when the Bulls host the Washington Wizards on Monday night.

Beal is averaging 33.3 points per game and scored 31 points on Sunday in a 119-97 loss to the Hornets in Charlotte.

But the Wizards dropped their second game in a row after falling behind by 21 in the first half as six Hornets scored in double figures led by Terry Rozier (26 points) and Gordon Hayward (25 points).

“Teams are attacking players and we have to step up and take the challenge and make them miss shots and not get beat by one or two-dribble drives and those are the things that are bothering us right now,” Washington coach Scott Brooks said.

Beal rebounded from a 1-for-14 shooting performance on Friday against the Miami Heat by going 11-for-22 from the field and 3-for-9 from 3-point range against the Hornets.

Robin Lopez had 14 points off the bench as Washington’s reserves outscored Charlotte’s bench 43-30. Russell Westbrook just barely missed his sixth triple-double of the season with 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

The Wizards shot a dismal 9-for-40 (22.5 percent) from the 3-point line.

“We have to have some pride, some dog (in us),” Beal said. “We kind of let teams walk over us. We got our butts kicked twice in a row and that is never appealing to anybody…It’s tough because I can’t do it for guys, I can only do it for myself.”

The Bulls beat Orlando despite missing Lauri Markkanen (19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds per game), who sat out with a right shoulder injury. Chicago was already missing Otto Porter (back) and Wendell Carter Jr. (quad contusion).

Denzel Valentine got the start and finished with 20 points — his most since March 2018.

“(Coach Donovan) just said if we want to be ‘a playoff team’ and take our team to the next level, which we have the ability to do, then we needed to come out and show it,” Valentine said. “Nobody is going to just give it to us because we’ve had the same team.”

Coby White had 13 points — all in the third quarter when he shot 5-for-5 from the field — and rookie Patrick Williams finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Thad Young was 5-for-10 shooting and finished with 11 points.

“When the game started tonight, we maintained a pretty high level of focus and concentration,” Donovan said. “Doesn’t mean we’re going to be perfect, we can’t do everything right, but I really thought the attention to detail and their focus and the way they worked on the things that we talked about trying to do better in this game, they really did a great job.”

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CHICAGO vs ORLANDO
When: 2/6/2021 7:05 PM
Where:

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: ORLANDO , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the ORLANDO listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 224.

Chicago Bulls (8-13, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (9-14, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando hosts the Chicago Bulls after Nikola Vucevic scored 43 points in the Magic’s 123-119 win over the Bulls.

The Magic have gone 7-9 against Eastern Conference teams. Orlando is third in the league with 11.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Khem Birch averaging 3.0 offensive boards.

The Bulls are 4-6 in Eastern Conference play. Chicago is 2-7 against opponents with a winning record.

The teams square off for the second game in a row.

TOP PERFORMERS: Vucevic is scoring 23.4 points per game and averaging 11.5 rebounds for the Magic. Evan Fournier is averaging 17.5 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 37.3% over the last 10 games for Orlando.

Zach LaVine leads the Bulls scoring 26.5 points and grabbing 5.2 rebounds. Thaddeus Young is averaging 6.2 rebounds and 11.4 points per game over the last 10 games for Chicago.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 3-7, averaging 105 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points on 45.8% shooting.

Bulls: 4-6, averaging 113.7 points, 44 rebounds, 27.4 assists, eight steals and four blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.3 points on 48.2% shooting.

INJURIES: Magic: Markelle Fultz: out for season (knee), Michael Carter-Williams: out (foot), Al-Farouq Aminu: out (knee), Jonathan Isaac: out for season (knee), Aaron Gordon: out (ankle).

Bulls: Wendell Carter Jr.: out (quad), Otto Porter Jr.: out (back).

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CAROLINA HURRICANES vs CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
When: 8:30 PM  ET, Thursday, November 8, 2018
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:35 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , CAROLINA

Oddsmakers currently have the CAROLINA listed as -115-moneyline favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Chicago Blackhawks will play under a different coach for the first time since the fifth game of the 2008-09 season when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday in a matchup of struggling teams. Joel Quenneville, the second-winningest coach in NHL history who won Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2010, 2013 and 2015, was relieved of his duties Tuesday after the Blackhawks missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2007-08 and got off to a slow start this year.

Jeremy Colliton, 33, was promoted from Rockford of the American Hockey League and named the 38th coach in franchise history while becoming the youngest coach in the NHL. “When I first heard the news, I’m just kind of thinking I wish I wasn’t sick in Vancouver or I wish I maybe felt better on the road trip I could have played better and then maybe something like this doesn’t happen,” Chicago’s Patrick Kane, one of four players to win all three Cups with Quenneville, told reporters. “Just thoughts running through your head.” The Blackhawks have lost five straight, completing a three-game swing through western Canada with a 5-3 loss to Calgary on Saturday while Carolina is riding the same slide after a 4-1 loss at St. Louis on Tuesday. The Hurricanes lead the NHL in shots (41.6) while allowing the fewest per game (24.3) but are 2-7-1 since a 4-0-1 start, scoring 17 goals during that span.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Carolinas, NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (6-7-2): Sebastian Aho (team highs of 17 points and 13 assists) has been kept off the scoresheet for the last three games after flying out of the gate with a 12-game point streak – the best run to start a season in franchise history. Micheal Ferland (club-most seven goals) has scored only once during the losing streak and is minus-3 over his last two contests. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin (team-high 22 minutes, 58 seconds of ice time per game) scored his first goal of the season Tuesday, Carolina’s only power-play goal in its last three games (14 chances).

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (6-6-3): Kane leads the club with 11 goals – all in the first 11 games – and 19 points after he was a minus-2 while recording an assist with zero shots Saturday. Alex DeBrincat (15 points) and Jonathan Toews (13) have eight goals apiece with Toews scoring twice in the last three games while DeBrincat has one assist in his past five contests. Corey Crawford (3-4-0, 2.92 goals-against average, .907 save percentage) has allowed 14 goals on 104 shots over his last three games – all losses.

OVERTIME

1. Colliton is younger than four of his players – LW Chris Kunitz, 39; D Duncan Keith, 35; G Cam Ward, 34; and G Corey Crawford, 33, who was born 13 days earlier.

2. Carolina (12.5 percent) and Chicago (14.0) have the fourth- and fifth-worst power plays in the NHL while the Hurricanes’ penalty-killing unit is 29th among the 31 teams at 69.8 percent through Tuesday’s games.

3. The clubs have split the last pair of two-game season series – all one-goal games – with the visiting team prevailing in both contests in 2017-18.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Hurricanes 2

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NEW YORK vs CHICAGO
When: 2/3/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: -2
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , NEW YORK

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as -2 point favorites versus the NEW YORK, while the game’s total is sitting at 216.

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NEW YORK vs CHICAGO
When: 2/1/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: -4
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , NEW YORK

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as -4 point favorites versus the NEW YORK, while the game’s total is sitting at 218.

Defense may be at the heart of the New York Knicks’ improvement in their first season under coach Tom Thibodeau, but it wasn’t evident on Sunday against the L.A. Clippers.

The Knicks gave up a season-high 129 points to the Clippers and allowed them to shoot 54.3 percent from the field. New York entered the contest holding opponents to 43 percent shooting and 102.7 points per game.

The Knicks will take on another capable offensive team on Monday night when they visit the Bulls in the first of back-to-back games at Chicago this week.

The Knicks, according to NBA Advanced Stats, have a top-10 defensive rating after finishing 23rd in that category last season. The defensive effort has complemented their consistent offensive output, which continued on Sunday.

Julius Randle continued to pace New York on that end of the floor with 27 points and 12 rebounds, Immanuel Quickley totaled 25 points and RJ Barrett finished with 23 points.

“I thought offensively (we) were good,” Thibodeau said. “Defensively, it’s not what we would have liked.”

Quickley followed up his 25-point performance against the Cavaliers last week as the rookie out of Kentucky continued to deliver off the bench.

“We saw it right from the first day he got here the way he approached things,” Thibodeau said. “He’s a student of the game, a great worker, a great attitude, a great approach. And the ups and downs of an NBA season, I think he prepares himself very well and his confidence comes from his preparation.”

The Bulls watched a five-point lead slip away in the final nine seconds in a 123-122 loss to Portland courtesy of Damian Lillard on Saturday. Lillard’s two triples including his game-winner at the buzzer spoiled Chicago’s bid for a second comeback victory this season against the Trail Blazers.

Chicago overcame a 20-point deficit in an 111-108 win at Portland on Jan. 5 and rallied from 19 points down on Saturday.

“We have to learn how to win and close out these kinds of games,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “I’ve said before the losing is painful with some of the ways we lost.”

Lillard buried seven of his eight three-pointers over the final two quarters and sparked Portland’s comeback.

Lauri Markkanen finished with a season-high 31 points. Zach LaVine (team-high 26.9 points per game) finished with 26 points and Thaddeus Young finished just shy of a triple-double with eight points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

After Lillard’s triple with 8.2 seconds left, Gary Trent Jr. tied up LaVine for a jump ball and won the tip to set up the game-winner.

“It was about as quick as a jump ball as I’ve ever seen,” Donovan said. “You can’t challenge that. I didn’t think it was a really good call at that point and time.

“Listen, we have to be stronger in those situations. I could’ve helped a little more by possibly calling a timeout to advance the ball.”

On the injury front for Chicago, Wendell Carter Jr. (right quad contusion) is out and Otto Porter Jr. (back spasms) is listed as questionable.

For the Knicks, Nerlens Noel (groin) sat out against the Clippers, but Reggie Bullock (neck soreness) returned following a three-game absence and scored eight points in just over 26 minutes.

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PORTLAND vs CHICAGO
When: 1/30/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: -2
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , PORTLAND

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as -2 point favorites versus the PORTLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 233.5.

The Portland Trail Blazers and host Chicago Bulls each will look to avoid a three-game losing streak when they tip off Saturday night.

Portland and Chicago each have dropped back-to-back games, although both of the Blazers’ losses have come by single digits and both of the Bulls’ losses have come by double digits. This will mark the first meeting between the teams in Chicago since Nov. 25, 2019.

The Blazers will be short-handed. Forward Derrick Jones Jr. (foot sprain) is out, and joins guard CJ McCollum (midfoot sprain) and center Jusuf Nurkic (broken wrist) in missing Thursday’s game. Forward Robert Covington (concussion) is questionable.

The absences have forced teammates such as Anfernee Simons to play a larger role. Simons has responded well, averaging 18.7 points and 4.3 rebounds over his past three games.

“I think from an offensive standpoint, he’s certainly comfortable taking shots, running the offense,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said of Simons. “With CJ out, he knows that there’s more responsibility, and he accepted that responsibility.”

Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 30 points and nine assists in their most recent game, a 104-101 loss against Houston. Lillard is averaging 28.8 points and 7.1 assists on the season.

In 16 career games against the Bulls, Lillard has averaged 21.0 points and 6.8 assists.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are coming off back-to-back losses against the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday and the Boston Celtics on Monday, but they have not played since then. The team had a longer-than-expected break because of COVID-19 concerns involving the Memphis Grizzlies, whom they were supposed to face on the road Wednesday before the game was postponed.

Bulls guard Tomas Satoransky said the extended break could prove beneficial.

“Obviously, we want to play games,” Satoransky said. “Nobody likes when games are postponed, but personally for me, it was really good just to have a couple of good practices. On Wednesday, we basically played the whole practice.

“That helps you with stamina. That helps with your rhythm. My conditioning got much better, and you get that feel back. So I’m glad that I could work with the team like that for a couple of days. You don’t have that many moments during the season.”

This is the second meeting between the teams this season. In their first matchup Jan. 5 in Portland, second-year guard Coby White scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Bulls to a 111-108 win. Otto Porter Jr. added 19 points and 13 boards.

McCollum, now injured, had 26 points to lead the Blazers. Lillard tallied 24 points and nine assists.

This will be the Bulls’ fourth straight game without Wendell Carter Jr., who is sidelined for at least the next several weeks because of a severe right quadriceps contusion. Daniel Gafford has earned more playing time in Carter’s place, but he is hoping for a better performance against Portland.

The second-year big man has started the past three games, averaging only 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds.

“The past couple of games, I’ve been a bit stuck in the mud, really,” Gafford said. “I’m working on getting out of that funk right now. It’s a little bit of a bump that I’m trying to get over.”

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HOUSTON vs CHICAGO
When: 1/18/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , HOUSTON

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 1.5 point favorites versus the HOUSTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 226.

Newly acquired Victor Oladipo is eager to make his Houston Rockets debut Monday as the team concludes a three-game road trip with a visit to the Chicago Bulls.

Part of a blockbuster trade last week that sent former Rockets star James Harden to Brooklyn and also involved Cleveland and Indiana, Oladipo joined Houston before Saturday’s game at San Antonio but could not be activated in time.

“My first impression has been amazing,” Oladipo said. “Guys have been welcoming. … I’m blessed and fortunate to be here. My goal for this season is to win, and win and win some more. Exhaust my potential here.”

Oladipo, a two-time All-Star guard, averaged 20.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in nine games for the Pacers this season. He missed more than a year with a right knee injury before returning in January 2020 to help Indiana clinch a playoff berth.

Oladipo already has faced Chicago at the United Center once this season as a member of the Pacers. He scored 22 points in 25 minutes while going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc on Dec. 26.

Because of various injuries and trade processing protocol, the Rockets dressed just eight players in Saturday’s 103-91 loss to the Spurs. Houston coach Stephen Silas said DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Gordon are expected to return to the lineup against the Bulls, but John Wall is out with knee soreness.

As the Rockets establish a new rotation and culture, Oladipo isn’t the only one itching to get going.

“Really, just going through this trade a couple days ago and adding players and continuing to know that, ‘OK, we’re here,'” said rookie Mason Jones, who had 24 points Saturday in his first career start.

“It means a lot and you know, I just to want to continue to really just show and the team really needs to show and just get better every day. Just continue to work hard, continue to come in every day with the right mentality.”

The Bulls snapped a four-game losing streak Sunday with a 117-101 road victory against the Dallas Mavericks. While starters Lauri Markkanen (29 points, 10 rebounds) and Zach LaVine (10 points, 10 assists) both registered double-doubles, Chicago benefited from a bevy of bench scoring.

Garrett Temple led the way for the reserves, scoring 17 of his season-best 21 points in the first half. The Bulls got 61 points from their bench and regrouped from Friday’s overtime loss at Oklahoma City in which they squandered a 10-point lead with 1:47 to play.

“This is a group that’s really working to get better as a team,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “I really appreciate every day working with them. Obviously, there have been some painful moments this year. But it speaks to their character that coming out of that (Friday) game, they didn’t hang their head.”

Monday marks Chicago’s first home game since a 118-108 win against Dallas on Jan. 3. The Bulls are set to play six of their next eight at United Center.

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CHICAGO vs DALLAS
When: 1/17/2021 3:00 PM
Where:

TV: 3:00 PM
LINE: -7
PREDICTION: DALLAS , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the DALLAS listed as -7 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 226.5.

Before Sunday’s matinee between the host Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls begins, the teams must move past some recent sour endings.

“We straight up folded,” the Bulls’ Zach LaVine said of Friday’s 127-125 overtime loss at Oklahoma City that saw Chicago squander a 10-point lead with 1:47 to go. “There’s not a lot to talk about.”

For Dallas, a 112-109 loss at Milwaukee on the same night seemingly turned as coach Rick Carlisle elected not to call a timeout to set up a play with the Mavericks trailing by two points late. Kristaps Porzingis’ contested 3-pointer with 10.4 seconds left was off the mark, prompting star Luca Doncic to react in frustration toward the team bench after Dallas fouled moments later.

“If we would’ve made the shot, everything would be good,” Doncic said. “I don’t know. It’s the coach’s decision to call a timeout or no, so I think it’s good.”

Doncic narrowly missed a triple-double, contributing 28 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds.

Playing in his second game after recuperating from offseason surgery on his right knee, Porzingis had 15 points on 6-for-19 shooting in 19 minutes.

Porzingis acknowledged a need to be “calmer” on the floor as he works back into a routine.

“There’s got to be a balance,” Porzingis said. “You want to be aggressive, but you want to be aggressive in situations and positions that you’re comfortable with. You don’t want to always look for it.”

First-year Bulls coach Billy Donovan is confident his young team will develop a stronger finishing kick, but pledged to do more after Chicago lost its fourth straight game, all by four points or less.

Committing 24 turnovers ultimately doomed the Bulls, who led the Thunder by 22 points in the third quarter and by 14 with 4:09 remaining.

“This is a hard-working group; it’s a good group of guys,” Donovan said. “They want to win. They don’t know how to. They’re learning how to. We’ve all got to pull together and work together and try to figure it out because this has been something these guys have dealt with for a while. I’m 12 games into this with them. And as a coach, you feel bad. You want to be able to do more, and I’ve got to try and find some different ways to try to help them as a group.”

Zach LaVine scored 35 points to lead five players in double figures. Back in the lineup for the first time since Dec. 29 due to NBA health and safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lauri Markkanen had 16 points.

Dallas’ Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell, and Josh Richardson remained out Friday due to health and safety protocols.

Chicago defeated visiting Dallas 118-108 on Jan. 3 behind 39 points from LaVine and a strong finish from Coby White, who scored 21 of his 23 points after halftime.

Doncic missed the game with a quad contusion but Brunson, who played his prep ball in north suburban Chicago, helped fill the void with 31 points.

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