THERE'S A GAME TONIGHT!!!!
While awaiting the potential return of Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls appear to be heating up as the playoffs approach.
The Milwaukee Bucks, meanwhile, haven't looked like a team that's in playoff position.
Trying for a fourth straight win, the visiting Bulls can sweep the season series from the struggling Bucks by recording a 10th consecutive victory at Milwaukee in a potential first-round playoff preview Wednesday night.
Chicago (45-29) has won five of six and averaged 108.3 points on 52.1 percent shooting to take the last three over Charlotte, Toronto and New York by an average margin of 18.6.
Third in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls are 2 1/2 games behind Central Division-leading Cleveland and one ahead of the fourth-place Raptors with eight remaining. Chicago is 9-8 since Rose decided to undergo minor knee surgery in late February.
''I think our mindset at this point is we're building toward something,'' forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. said. ''When Derrick gets back, it's a bonus.''
"Physically, he says he feels good," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Ultimately he's got to feel comfortable."
Rookie Nikola Mirotic has helped pick up the offensive slack in Rose's absence while averaging 20.8 points in the 15 March games. He scored 24 in Saturday's 111-80 rout of the Knicks.
While the Bulls would love to have Rose ready for a playoff run, they'll continue to remain focused amid their current stretch of success.
''I think we're getting there,'' All-Star Pau Gasol said after increasing his league-leading double-double total to 48 with 19 points and 12 rebounds versus New York.
''We can't get too complacent," he added. "We can't get satisfied by a few good games. We just need to continue because the challenges are going to come and they're going to come quickly.''
Chicago's first playoff challenge could come against Milwaukee (36-38), which is sixth in the East but has dropped eight of 10 and is 5-15 since Feb. 22.
Though the Bucks' last five wins have come at home, they've averaged 82.7 points during a six-game overall skid to the Bulls. They've also averaged 86.4 while dropping the last nine meetings at the Bradley Center - their longest current home slide against any opponent.
Taj Gibson had 23 points with 10 rebounds and Gasol added 22 and 14 boards to help Chicago open the season series with a 95-86 win at Milwaukee on Nov. 5.
The Bucks, who are trying to avoid being swept by their neighbors to the south for the third time in five seasons, have averaged 81.3 points and shot 38.2 percent against the Bulls in 2014-15.
However, none of those contests came with Michael Carter-Williams on the court. A foot injury kept him out as Milwaukee set season lows for points and shooting (33.7 percent) in an 87-71 loss at Chicago on Feb. 23.
Carter-Williams has averaged 12.8 points in 17 games since he was acquired by the Bucks prior to the trade deadline, but 7.3 while shooting 26.7 percent and committing 15 turnovers in the last four. He had four points and four turnovers as Milwaukee suffered an 11th straight road defeat, 101-88 at Atlanta on Monday.
"Offensively and defensively, there was not enough energy," coach Jason Kidd said. "That's what we've built our foundation on, and we just had another no-show.'http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bulls-bucks-preview-154050587--nba.html '
Lineups:
Bulls:
PG. Brooks
SG. Butler
SF. Dunleavy
PF. Gasol
C. Noah
Bucks:
PG. MCW
SG. Middleton
SF. Antekodjdaosdsdadkuonmpo
PF. Ilaysova
C. ZAZA
Interesting side note about this game, at halftime the Bucks ownership will be giving fans a sneak peak of Milwaukee's new colors for next season...color me intrigued! (pun intended)
GO. FIGHT. WIN. BULLS!
