Regular Season Game 53
Wizards (31-21) at Bulls (31-25)
United Center
8 PM
ESPN
Previous Results:
Bulls 112, Wizards 94
Wizards 113, Bulls 103
Ahh, da Bulls. This has evolved into a bit of a mini-rivalry in the last couple years, dating back to 2005. The Wizards and Bulls played in the playoffs, and after falling behind 2-0 in the series, the Wizards won the next four games. It was a coming out of sorts for Gilbert Arenas, who hit this memorable shot to win Game 5.
Suffice to say, these two teams have contrasting styles, as I covered in the last Bulls game preview. When they last played, the Wizards won a sloppy, physical contest at the Verizon Center. The game included the strange 75 foot, three-shot foul by Kirk Hinrich on Gilbert Arenas, and also included a flagrant foul by Andres Nocioni. I spent the entire time arguing about the officials with my friend from Chicago. He was saying the officials cost the Bulls the game, I was saying that you can't blame the officials for a 10 point loss. Needless to say, it was a slugfest between two budding rivals.
Even though the Bulls are an excellent home team, and the Wizards are a poor road team, I think this game will be close. Both teams are in the second game of back-to-backs, and both teams played close games last night. It should be a good one.
Bulls blogs: Blogabull, Thank You Isiah, Bull Riding.
Your lines for tonight:
Wizards at Bulls: Bulls by 5.
Over/Under on Big 2: 49.7 points.
This is an open game thread, so any anti-Chris Duhon or Luol Deng comments (Duke grads) go here.