Spoiler:
Bleacher ReportBulls vs Hawks Play-In Preview
The Bulls-Hawks play-in game is kind of like if the King Ghidorah meme had four heads, with this contest serving as the Kevin of the group. We have three superstar-fueled contests that will have lasting impacts on player legacies and this year's eventual champion; and then there's this meeting of two sub-.500 teams.
Trae Young recently returned to the Hawks following hand surgery and there's a good chance this is the last time he and Dejounte Murray play together in an Atlanta uniform given how poorly this season has gone.
Atlanta ended its regular season giving up 157 points to the Indiana Pacers while the Bulls had an admirable overtime loss to the New York Knicks, now the No. 2 seed in the East.
Matchup to Watch: Trae Young vs. Coby White
The Hawks have ramped up Young's minutes over the past week in his return, although the All-Star guard hasn't had a breakout game yet and scored just 12 points in 32 minutes in the season finale. After averaging 29.2 points and 10.2 assists in the first round last year, Young will need a big game for Atlanta to move on.
White's development is the best thing about Chicago's season, as the 24-year-old guard's scoring and assist numbers essentially doubled. DeMar DeRozan's big-game experience will steady the ship, but White will need a strong performance on both ends (while guarding either Young or Murray) for Chicago to win.
X-Factor: Javonte Green
Chicago is 5-4 in games Green has played since his first appearance of the season on March 27, and the veteran wing has averaged 15.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and shot 60.9 percent over his last six games. Going up against a Hawks team that's thin due to injury on the wing, Green should make a big impact.
I matched his energy.