Bulls at Wizards
The Washington Wizards are trying to make the most of a lengthy homestand but dropped two of the last three after beginning the stand with a pair of victories. The Wizards will try to ensure a winning six-game stay when they host the Chicago Bulls in the finale on Tuesday.
Washington, which visits the New York Knicks in its final game prior to the All-Star break on Wednesday, knocked off Charlotte, Brooklyn and Dallas on the homestand but fell to NBA-worst Golden State last week and went cold in the fourth quarter while dropping a 106-99 decision to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. "I thought in the fourth quarter, we had some good looks," Wizards coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "I think we missed three or four threes in a row or right around each other and in and out could have maybe even extended the lead. Those nights are going to happen, but I thought we still competed, and we gave ourselves a chance." The Bulls are stumbling toward the break with losses in five straight but battled the Philadelphia 76ers to the finish in a 118-111 setback on Sunday that marked the opener of the two-game trip. Chicago is just trying to make it to the break without losing any more players and took the court Sunday down four starters and a pair of key reserves.
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Chicago, NBCS Washington, NBA TV Canada
ABOUT THE BULLS (19-35): The only starter remaining from Chicago's projected top five is guard Zach LaVine, and he fought through a stiff neck to deliver 32 points on 11-of-21 shooting on Sunday. "It speaks to his growth, his wanting to be a primary guy and perform as a primary guy even when you don't feel well," Bulls coach Jim Boylen told reporters of LaVine. "That's what big-time guys do, and I thought he did it. If you would've (seen) how he looked yesterday and how he was moving to how he fought through today, it was a great thing for us and a great thing for him." LaVine got some help from forward Luke Kornet, who scored 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting after totaling 11 points in the previous two contests.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (18-33): Washington shot 35 percent from the floor in Sunday's setback, including 7-of-33 from 3-point range, and had a pair of starters go without a field goal as center Ian Mahinmi and forward Isaac Bonga combined to go 0-of-8. The Wizards added a pair of players at the deadline on Thursday and both struggled against the Grizzlies, with point guard Shabazz Napier going 0-of-8 from the floor - 0-of-5 from beyond the arc - and Jerome Robinson 2-of-7 in 16 minutes. Star guard Bradley Beal fought through the shooting struggles and finished with 26 points - his 10th consecutive game scoring 25 or more.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards C Thomas Bryant (foot) sat out the last two games and could be out until after the All-Star break.
2. Bulls PF Daniel Gafford (ankle) could return on Tuesday but SG Denzel Valentine (hamstring) is questionable while PG Kris Dunn (knee), PF Lauri Markkanen (pelvis), SF Otto Porter Jr. (foot) and C Wendell Carter Jr. (ankle) are out.
3. Chicago took the first two meetings, including a 110-109 overtime triumph at Washington on Dec. 18.