INDIANA vs CHICAGO
When: 12/26/2020 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: 3.5
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , INDIANA

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 3.5 point favorites versus the INDIANA, while the game’s total is sitting at 223.

An Indiana Pacers team finally looking like it did two seasons ago is set to hit the road for the first time Wednesday to meet a Chicago Bulls team working on an entirely new identity.

Pacers guard Victor Oladipo appeared to turn the clock back to 2018 after a trying two seasons when he was left to recover from a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee.

After playing just 36 games in the 2018-19 season and 19 last season, Oladipo scored 22 points with four rebounds and four assists in a 121-107 home victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Oladipo’s first half was rusty, much like his return from injury that started in January and continued when the Pacers’ 2019-20 season resumed in August. He made only two shots from the field in the opening two quarters Wednesday before leading the charge in the second half with 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting.

“I’m still getting stronger, getting my power back and things like that, but I’m healed,” Oladipo said. “At the end of the day, I just go out there and play aggressive, play my game, be myself and be assertive. And when I do that, everything else is just free flowing.”

The Pacers won their first game under new head coach Nate Bjorkgren after Nate McMillan got the Pacers into the playoffs in each of his four seasons but couldn’t get the team out of the first round. He was fired after the Pacers fell to the Miami Heat in last season’s opening round.

The Bulls also have a new head coach in Billy Donovan, but unlike Bjorkgren’s quest of getting his team further into the playoffs, Donovan just wants to get his squad there. The Bulls have not been to the playoffs since 2017 when they were eliminated in the first round.

One game into the Donovan era, the Bulls showed that exorcising their demons will take some time. Chicago fell 124-104 in their opener at home against the Atlanta Hawks, getting off to a brutal start when they gave up 42 points in the first quarter and 83 in the first half.

“We’ve got to get physically tougher in terms of just on the ball and having some resistance, preventing the ball from getting to the rim, then being able to close back out,” Donovan said.

“In that 40-point (first quarter), Atlanta played really well offensively. They made shots even though I didn’t think our defense was great. I don’t want to take away from what they did.”

Bulls rookie forward Patrick Williams, the No. 4 overall selection in the NBA draft, did have 16 points and four rebounds to provide a bright spot. At 19, Williams became the youngest player in Bulls history to start a season opener.

Zach LaVine scored 22 points for Chicago, while Lauri Markkanen had 21 points and seven rebounds. But after the disastrous first half, the Bulls are mostly looking to move past anything that happened in Game 1.

“The main thing is winning,” said LaVine, who had a career-best 25.5 points per game last season. “Individual things come after winning. I think over the last couple of years, you know, individually I’ve been one of the better players in the NBA when you look at it. But we didn’t get the wins, so you’re not going to get the recognition for that.”

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CHICAGO vs JACKSONVILLE
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 7.5
PREDICTION: JACKSONVILLE , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the JACKSONVILLE listed as 7.5 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 47.

Winning successive games on the heels of a six-game skid that seemingly sullied a 5-1 start, the Chicago Bears remain in reach of their 2020 vision of making the NFC playoffs.

Entering a Week 16 visit to the reeling Jacksonville Jaguars, losers of 13 games in a row, the Bears are one game behind the Arizona Cardinals for the final NFC wild card spot.

“We’re excited,” Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said. “I mean, this is what you play for.”

After navigating offensive struggles for much of the season, the Bears (7-7) have found a resurgence behind a jelling combination on the line that has allowed Trubisky room to operate and created space for running back David Montgomery.

Injuries and inconsistency on the offensive line led coach Matt Nagy to employ six different lineups in the first 10 games. However, in the four games since the Bears have started the combo of Charles Leno at left tackle, Cody Whitehair at left guard, Sam Mustipher at center, Alex Bars at right guard and Germain Ifedi at right tackle, Montgomery has eclipsed 100 yards three times.

The Bears’ highest output in the first 10 games was Montgomery’s 89 yards in Week 8.

“When you watch tape, you see these linemen,” Nagy said. “They’re running to the ball, they’re picking guys up off the ground, they’re celebrating. … So it starts right there and it starts with the belief, and trust then filters down to or moves on to David at running back, to CP (Cordarrelle Patterson) at running back, to Mitchell at quarterback.”

Jacksonville (1-13) has been outscored 71-24 in its past two games while facing AFC playoff contenders Tennessee and Baltimore. In Week 15, the Ravens controlled the line of scrimmage — and most other facets of the game — in building a 26-0 halftime lead en route to a 40-14 home victory.

While Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew passed for 226 yards and two touchdowns, he had only 58 yards through the air in the first half. Meanwhile, the Jaguars offensive line allowed five sacks and running back James Robinson, who is battling ankle issues, rushed for only 35 yards, his second-lowest output of 2020.

“I mean, we were getting one or two yards in the play-action game. We weren’t able to make plays,” Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone said. “Either not pulling the trigger, or not being in good position, or pressure coming — it gets to you. It’s a lot of things. When you don’t play that well … it’s not one thing, it’s everything.”

Marrone said Minshew and veteran Mike Glennon, a former Bear, would compete this week for the starting job, adding some intrigue.

After the New York Jets upset the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 for their first victory of the season, the Jaguars suddenly gained an inside edge for the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, a selection that likely would bring Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence to Jacksonville. The Jaguars have the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker on the Jets.

Nevertheless, Marrone said the Jaguars remain focused on ending the losing streak.

“No one has advised me anything different than to go out there and win,” he said. “I understand, I guess, from a standpoint of I was young growing up, you know, and I had a favorite team and was excited to see where they were going to pick.”

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GREEN BAY vs CHICAGO
When: 1/3/2021 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 5
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , GREEN BAY

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 5 point favorites versus the GREEN BAY, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.5.

Playoff implications are on the line when the Green Bay Packers visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon to close out the regular season.

Green Bay (12-3) can clinch a first-round bye and the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win or a tie against the Bears. The Packers, who already have clinched the NFC North, also can get a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if the Seattle Seahawks (11-4) lose or tie against the San Francisco 49ers.

Meanwhile, Chicago (8-7) can clinch an NFC playoff berth with a win over its longtime division nemesis. There are two other pathways for the Bears to secure a postseason spot — if the Arizona Cardinals (8-7) fall short to the Los Angeles Rams (9-6), or if the Bears and Cardinals each finish with tie scores.

Bottom line: Expect a dramatic showdown at Soldier Field when the teams meet for the 202nd time — the NFL’s oldest rivalry. Green Bay leads the series 100-95-6.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur has not had any trouble motivating his players heading into Week 17.

“The guys are dialed in,” he said. “There’s a lot to be motivated about. There’s a lot, obviously, at stake.”

The same is true in Chicago, which has had a roller-coaster season in coach Matt Nagy’s third year. The Bears opened the season with a 5-1 record, then lost six games in a row to fall to 5-7, then won three straight.

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has played a key role in the late-season turnaround. He was benched for veteran Nick Foles during a Week 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons, but he reclaimed his starting job in Week 12 and has posted a 99.3 passer rating since then with 1,243 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.

“Everything I’ve experienced this season has just made me stronger and a better person and player,” Trubisky said. “Just what I’ve had to deal with and everything we’ve had to overcome as a team, to see where we’re at now, it gives you confidence.

“All the distractions and everything you have to deal with throughout the season and playing within a pandemic, it does make you mentally stronger as a person. And you’re able to deal with a lot more.”

As Green Bay’s defense looks to limit Trubisky — and perhaps more importantly, running back David Montgomery, who has been even more impressive over the past five games — Chicago’s defense will take on a steeper challenge. The Bears must find a way to slow down Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

At age 37, Rodgers is putting up MVP-caliber numbers with 4,059 passing yards, 44 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has a 119.4 passer rating, which leads the league and is the second best of his storied career, trailing only a 122.5 passer rating that he finished with in 2011.

Green Bay won the first meeting this season 41-25 on Nov. 29, as Rodgers passed for 211 yards and four scores at Lambeau Field.

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CHICAGO vs DETROIT
When: 9/13/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -2.5
PREDICTION: DETROIT , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the DETROIT listed as -2.5 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.5.

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NEW YORK vs CHICAGO
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), NBCS Chicago
LINE: -6.5
PREDICTION: Bulls 103, Knicks 95

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as -6.5 point favorites versus the NEW YORK, while the game’s total is sitting at 212.5.

The New York Knicks are not off to the start the front office envisioned prior to the season and are coming off one of their most frustrating performances in a 108-87 home loss to Cleveland on Sunday. The Knicks will try to bounce back and live up to expectations when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.

New York president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry held a press conference after watching their team get blown out at home by the rebuilding Cavaliers and addressed the team’s effort. “I think the lack of consistency, that for the most part we’ve seen it, but you see sporadic efforts, too,” Perry told reporters. “That’s what we talked about as we sat during this game and one of the reasons we wanted to come out and address you guys. Because we got to be consistent in all areas of the game, starting with the effort.” The Bulls are in a similar spot with losses in seven of the first 10 games and were blown out at home 117-94 by the Houston Rockets on Saturday. “When they’re scoring and we’re struggling to score, then we get a little bit stagnant,” Chicago coach Jim Boylen told reporters. “We get a little bit unsure and that’s happened a few times to us. It’s what we’ve got to work on.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE KNICKS (2-8): New York was encouraged by a 106-102 victory at Dallas on Friday and the players agreed with the team brass that the performance on Sunday was not up to standard. “(Mills and Perry are) right,” forward Marcus Morris Sr. told reporters. “We need to win. We got great players. We got great chemistry. We got great guys on this team. … If I was front office, I’d be upset, too. Our coaches are doing a great job. We just got to be better. They’re not the ones giving up 20-point leads in the beginning of the first half. That’s us. It’s all on us, and we have to own it.” Morris scored 29 points in the win at Dallas but was held to nine points on 3-of-12 shooting on Sunday.

ABOUT THE BULLS (3-7): Chicago is trying to run an offense that relies heavily on the 3-point shot but enters play on Monday 25th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (31.3 percent) and went 4-of-32 from beyond the arc on Saturday while the Rockets went 19-of-44. “We have guys shooting below their career averages by multiple points,” Boylen told reporters. “Will that turn? I think it will. It’s frustrating when it doesn’t. I get it, believe me. I’m sitting over there with it, too.” Forward Lauri Markkanen is shooting 27.9 percent from 3-point range and went 0-of-5 against the Rockets.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bulls SF Otto Porter Jr. (foot) sat out Saturday and is questionable for Tuesday.

2. Knicks C Mitchell Robinson (concussion) will miss his third straight game.

3. F Bobby Portis led the way with 28 points against his former team when New York earned a 105-98 home win over Chicago on Oct. 28.

PREDICTION: Bulls 103, Knicks 95

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CHICAGO vs DENVER
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Bears -2.5.
O/U: 40.5
PREDICTION: Bears 27, Broncos

Oddsmakers currently have the DENVER listed as -2.5 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 40.5.

Two teams looking to bounce back from disappointing season openers square off Sunday as the Chicago Bears visit the Denver Broncos. Chicago came out on top on the stat sheet against Green Bay at home but dropped a 10-3 decision while Denver suffered a 24-16 loss in Oakland that was not as close as the scoreboard indicated.

The Bears, who got on the board first, topped the Packers in first downs (16-13) and total yards (254-213) while Mitchell Trubisky (228) threw for more yards than Aaron Rodgers (203). Chicago was unable to establish the run, however, as it totaled 46 yards on 15 carries – with its longest play going for eight yards. Denver was kept off the scoreboard by Oakland in the first half on Monday and was limited to three field goals after intermission before finding the end zone with just over two minutes remaining. Joe Flacco completed 21-of-31 passes for 268 yards in his debut for the Broncos, whose defense allowed the Raiders to go 10-for-14 on third-down attempts.

ABOUT THE BEARS (0-1): Chicago allowed Trubisky to be sacked five times by Green Bay and now faces a defense that features one of the NFL’s top pass rushers in Von Miller, but tackle Charles Leno Jr. is confident in his ability to protect his quarterback this week. “I’m not saying I got a handle (on it),” Leno told reporters. “I’ve still got to go out there and do my job and perform. But going against those guys (Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd) in practice every day. I mean, how much more difficult is it going to get?” Tight end Trey Burton has practiced on a limited basis this week after missing the season opener with a groin injury and hopes to play in Week 2.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (0-1): Courtland Sutton got off to a good start in his quest to avoid a sophomore jinx as he made seven catches for a game-high 120 yards. “I thought he made some catches in traffic and had strong hands,” Flacco told reporters of the 23-year-old. “I thought he did a good job getting some yardage after the catch also. It wasn’t like he was wide-open, but he’s a big, physical guy that I can feel comfortable throwing the ball to in some of those situations.” Cornerback Bryce Callahan, whose 2018 season ended in Week 14 due to a foot injury, missed this year’s opener with – according to coach Vic Fangio – the “same issue” but was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Broncos LB Todd Davis practiced on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a calf injury on July 18 and hopes to make his season debut this week.

2. Chicago on Wednesday claimed TE J.P. Holtz off waivers from Washington and waived DT Abdullah Anderson, who was signed to the team’s practice squad the following day.

3. Denver placed Tim Patrick (hand) on injured reserve and signed fellow WR River Cracraft, who was waived earlier this month after appearing in eight games for the team last year.

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GREEN BAY vs CHICAGO
When: 8:20 PM ET, Thursday, September 5, 2019
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:20 PM
LINE: -3.5
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , GREEN BAY

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as -3.5 point favorites versus the GREEN BAY, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.

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CHICAGO BULLS vs SAN ANTONIO SPURS
When: 8:30 PM  ET, Saturday, December 15, 2018
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas

TV: 8:35 PM
LINE: -12.5
PREDICTION: SAN ANTONIO , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the SAN ANTONIO listed as -12.5 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 210.5.

The San Antonio Spurs are playing like the great teams of their recent past during a six-game homestand and are coming off one of their most impressive wins after blowing past the Los Angeles Clippers 125-87 on Thursday. The Spurs will try to make it five straight victories when they host the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.

San Antonio held each of its last two opponents under 90 points and limited the Clippers to 30 points in the second half on Thursday. “I thought that we played a really good defensive game, and that fuels your offense in most situations,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. “I like to think we’re getting better, more consistent defensively, and I think that showed tonight.” The Bulls averaged 85.7 points in their last three games – all losses – and fell short in the final minutes of a 97-91 loss to the Orlando Magic in Mexico City on Thursday. “As a group, we have to make one or two big plays at the end, whether it’s a rebound or finishing a play at the rim, playing through contract, whatever it is,” Bulls interim coach Jim Boylen told reporters. “We’re going to keep working at that.”

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), KENS (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE BULLS (6-23): One reason for Chicago’s offensive struggles of late is power forward Lauri Markkanen’s shooting slump, and he went 2-of-10 from the floor on Thursday to fall to 10-of-36 over the last three contests. “I was just missing them,” Markkanen told reporters. “I had a couple of good looks, but then a couple at the end of the shot clock I had to force. I am still trying to get adjusted to playing the game and I just need to get my legs back under me. I’m confident on every shot even though I have been missing lately, so I am still confident I am going to make every shot.” The Bulls offense is not likely to include forward Jabari Parker, who logged four minutes on Thursday and has fallen out of Boylen’s rotation.

ABOUT THE SPURS (15-14): San Antonio sat three games under .500 after dropping a 121-113 decision at the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 7 but is turning things around at home and climbed back above .500 with Thursday’s triumph. “We knew coming into this with the adversity we were facing before this home stretch, we had to come in and take advantage of this opportunity,” Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan told reporters. “We had a lot of mistakes early on (in the season). So, we’re just getting to this point of trying to put everything together and keep it rolling. (We’re) trying to go out there and win every quarter by trying to limit them to 25 or less points. We just have to take pride in holding teams under a certain amount of points.” DeRozan is increasing his role as a playmaker and averaged 8.3 assists over the last four games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bulls SF Chandler Hutchinson (illness) sat out Thursday and is day-to-day.

2. Spurs SF Rudy Gay is averaging 19.6 points on 61.3 percent shooting over the last five games.

3. San Antonio took the last four in the series, including a 108-107 win at Chicago on Nov. 26.

PREDICTION: Spurs 106, Bulls 88

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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS vs WINNIPEG JETS
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Where: Bell MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: WINNIPEG , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 200-moneyline favorites versus the WINNIPEG, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Winnipeg Jets have won five of their previous six games entering Tuesday’s home contest with the Chicago Blackhawks but are not satisfied with some aspects of their game, even after a 7-1 blowout of Philadelphia on Sunday. The Jets spent Monday talking about the need for better starts after the Flyers outshot Winnipeg 10-1 in the opening minutes of the first period, requiring goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to record several difficult saves before the offense got on track.

“If we play a really good team, they’re not going to give us any easy goals,” Jets forward Patrik Laine told reporters after Monday’s practice, one day after seven Winnipeg players (none named Laine, whose 21 goals entering the week ranked tied for second in the NHL) scored in the Philadelphia victory. “We have to be ready from the start.” The Blackhawks gave up the game-winning goal with 1:17 left in Saturday’s 3-2 home loss to Montreal, extending Chicago’s losing streak to seven. Patrick Kane scored twice in the defeat as the Blackhawks lost for the ninth time in 10 games overall and dropped into a tie with Los Angeles for fewest points in the NHL (23). “Kind of the same old story thought,” Kane told the media after Saturday’s defeat. “We got behind and find ourselves back into the game and find a way to lose it late. Another tough loss.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (9-17-5): Kane scored only twice in his previous 18 games before recording his two goals Saturday, extending his points streak to three games (four points). Defenseman Connor Murphy, sidelined all season with a back injury, finished with four shots on goal and three hits in 16:46 of ice time in his debut Saturday. Goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 25 shots Saturday but fell to 2-13-1 in his past 16 games, and has surrendered four or more goals nine times in that span.

ABOUT THE JETS (18-9-2): The recipe has been pretty simple for Winnipeg during this hot streak that has lifted the Jets within two points of the Western Conference’s top spot: An offense that’s scored four goals or more four times in six games, and strong play from Hellebuyck. After a sluggish start to the season, Hellebuyck is 4-1-0 with a .923 save percentage in his past five games. Offensively, forward Blake Wheeler (32 assists, 37 points) and center Mark Scheifele (16 goals, 35 points) continue helping lead the NHL’s sixth highest-scoring offense (3.45 goals per game).

OVERTIME

1. The Blackhawks have allowed the first goal in 10 consecutive games, and have scored on the power play in only two of their past 10 contests (going 1-for-8 Saturday).

2. Winnipeg F Mathieu Perreault did not practice Monday and will be a game-time decision after leaving in the third period Sunday following a big hit by Philadelphia’s Dale Weise.

3. Chicago F Artem Anisimov remains in concussion protocol after leaving Saturday’s game with 1:03 to play and will not travel to Winnipeg.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Blackhawks 3

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SACRAMENTO KINGS vs CHICAGO BULLS
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Monday, December 10, 2018
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:05 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , SACRAMENTO

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the SACRAMENTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 225.

Fresh off the worst loss in franchise history, the Chicago Bulls are struggling to figure out their new coach and his methods. The Bulls will try to bounce back and put together a more competitive effort when they host the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

Chicago dropped a 133-77 decision to the Boston Celtics on Saturday and interim coach Jim Boylen subbed out all five of his starters in both the first and third quarters, a move that didn’t sit well with all the players. “It sucks man, sitting there and watching the score go up and up,” Bulls guard Zach LaVine told reporters. “I know we’re competing, but you know you can help. And sometimes you don’t feel like you do anything wrong. We got blitzed to come out. Obviously, (Boylen) didn’t like that. That happens in the NBA sometimes. We responded in the second quarter. I don’t know. I do not know. There’s a lot of questions you could ask, but I really don’t know.” The Kings are coming off a loss as well after watching a three-game winning streak come to an end with a 107-97 setback at Indiana on Saturday. “We just sucked,” Sacramento shooting guard Buddy Hield told reporters. “The second half, we didn’t get back on defense (and) turnovers killed us; turnovers and not making shots. We’re supposed to make shots.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE KINGS (13-12): Sacramento was playing the second night of a back-to-back at Indiana on Saturday and looked sluggish while seeing a string of nine straight games scoring at least 111 points come to an end. “It will just be like a mental day, refresh, re-Zen, get yourself right again,” Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein told reporters while looking forward to a day off on Sunday. “Monday’s game is a must-win for us. I think everybody in this locker room is together, really together, and really wants to win, so this day off is going to be big for us.” Cauley-Stein collected 14 points, nine rebounds and a pair of blocks in the loss.

ABOUT THE BULLS (6-21): Boylen is increasing the frequency and intensity of practices since taking over for Fred Hoiberg last week and sat his starters for nearly the final 22 minutes on Saturday in anticipation of a spirited Sunday practice. “That’s not the standard of our program, to get down like that at home,” Boylen told reporters. “We were just following them around. We were a step slow on everything, mentally and physically. Is it want to? Is it effort? What is it? I don’t know what it is. I just wasn’t going to stand for it. I just pulled them together and told them all these people paid the money to see you guys play, and you’re not giving them the effort you gotta give them. It’s disappointing. We need some leadership to step up.” LaVine, who leads the team in scoring at an average of 24 points, finished with 11 in 19 minutes on Saturday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bulls PG Shaquille Harrison scored a career-high 20 points in 29 minutes off the bench on Saturday.

2. Kings SF Justin Jackson is 10-of-16 from 3-point range over the last five games.

3. Sacramento took both meetings last season, including a 107-106 victory at Chicago.

PREDICTION: Kings 116, Bulls 103

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