Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz Preview

Bulls seek revenge against a Jazz team looking to extend winning streak

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls (25-27) travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz (31-19) in an NBA game on Thursday, February 16, 2023. The Bulls are coming off a 125-117 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, while the Jazz are coming off a 120-119 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. The Bulls have lost two of their last three games and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. They are currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings, two games behind the eighth-place Washington Wizards. The Jazz have won three of their last four games and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, one game ahead of the fifth-place Dallas Mavericks.

Key matchup

The key matchup in this game will be the battle between Bulls star guard DeMar DeRozan and Jazz star center Lauri Markkanen. DeRozan is averaging 26.9 points per game this season, while Markkanen is averaging 24.9 points per game.

Injury report

The Bulls will be without guard Lonzo Ball (knee) and forward Patrick Williams (ankle). The Jazz will be without guard Collin Sexton (hamstring) and forward Rudy Gay (knee).

Prediction

The Jazz are a slight favorite in this game, but the Bulls have the potential to pull off the upset. The key for the Bulls will be to limit Markkanen's production and get big games from DeRozan and Zach LaVine. The Jazz, meanwhile, will need to take advantage of their size advantage and get big games from Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson.