Wizards at Bulls
THE STORY: The Chicago Bulls are smack in the middle of one of the NBA’s lockout-shortened schedule quirks, enduring a stretch of nine games in 12 days. On Wednesday, the Bulls will host the Washington Wizards in their third game in as many days. Chicago has won its first two in that stretch, taking out the Detroit Pistons on Monday and outlasting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, and will attempt to join the Oklahoma City Thunder as the only teams to sweep a three-for-three set so far this season. The Bulls could be playing on some tired legs, however, as reigning MVP Derrick Rose was forced to play the entire second half and several other players logged heavy minutes in the 111-100 victory at Minnesota. The Wizards became the final team in the league to log a victory with a 93-78 triumph over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSW (Washington), CSCH (Chicago)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (1-8): Washington could not get anything together offensively or defensively through the first eight games and star guard John Wall was struggling to carry the team. Looking for a little more energy at the start, coach Flip Saunders switched up his lineup on Tuesday, benching Rashard Lewis and Andray Blatche in favor of rookie Chris Singleton and second-year man Trevor Booker. Lewis and Blatche ended up giving the Wizards a lift in the second quarter as they began to overtake the Raptors.
ABOUT THE BULLS (9-2): Rose finished with a season-high 31 points and 11 assists on Tuesday, carrying Chicago through the finish. The Bulls did not have their typical strong defensive game but they made up for it on the glass, outrebounding the Timberwolves, 47-30. Minnesota came into the game leading the NBA in rebounding. Chicago has played only three of its 11 games at home thus far, going 3-0 at the United Center. The Bulls get Thursday off before another back-to-back set on Friday and Saturday.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Bulls have won five straight in the series and took the final two meetings last season by an average of 23.5 points.
2. Rose has averaged 20.1 points and 6.7 assists in 11 career games against Washington.
3. Wall put up 14.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.3 turnovers in three games against Chicago last season.