Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards: Game Preview, Prediction
By Dan Schultz
@DSchultz89
Getty Images
Chicago Bulls (18-9) vs. Washington Wizards (19-7)
Game Time, TV: Tuesday, December 23 – 7:00 p.m. ET on NBA League Pass
Projected Starting Lineups:
Bulls: PG: Derrick Rose, SG: Jimmy Butler, SF: Mike Dunleavy, PF: Pau Gasol, C: Joakim Noah
Wizards: PG: John Wall, SG: Bradley Beal, SF: Paul Pierce, PF: Kris Humphries, C: Marcin Gortat
Two Eastern Conference powerhouses will meet in Washington D.C. on Tuesday night when the Bulls take on the Wizards. The Bulls, fresh off a grueling 129-120 victory against the impressive Toronto Raptors, will most likely be coming in very tired to this game. It is especially difficult for a team to win the second game of a back-to-back when the game is on the road.
The Bulls have been beaten up throughout the year, but are starting to slowly but surely get healthy again and most importantly, Derrick Rose is beginning to look like his dominant self again.
The Wizards have somehow survived Bradley Beal missing a number of games at the beginning of the season, and have remained consistently good to begin this year. The addition of Paul Pierce has given them yet another strong veteran voice in the locker room, while his on-court leadership and ability to make clutch shots has given the Wizards another dimension at the small forward position.
The key matchup will be Rose vs. John Wall. Both of these players are considered to be elite at the point guard position. Wall has really added to his offensive game, while Rose continues to rely on his explosiveness to blow by his defender in an attempt to get to the rim each and every time. It will be fascinating to watch these two face off once again.
Due to the Bulls just playing on Monday night, I see the Wizards finding a way to win this game. Both of these teams have superb benches and great role players to complement their respective star players, but ultimately the Wizards being a little better rested than the Bulls will be the difference-maker in this game.
Prediction: Wizards 109, Bulls 105
Dan Schultz is an NBA sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.
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