Nets at Bulls
THE STORY: Brook Lopez may make his regular-season debut Saturday afternoon when his New Jersey Nets face the host Chicago Bulls. The 7-footer has missed the entire campaign after suffering a broken foot, but was upgraded to questionable on Friday after practicing with the team. He'll likely be a game-time decision for the tilt, which should be one of the Nets' most challenging to date. Chicago is surrendering the third-fewest points in the league and has been especially stingy at home, winning 11 of its first 12 games there.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, YES, WGN
ABOUT THE NETS (8-23): New Jersey kept pace with Indiana for most of the game but ultimately dropped a 93-88 decision Thursday night for its eighth consecutive defeat. Lopez may not make an immediate impact on the Nets' fortunes, but his inside presence will be a welcome addition. The 23-year-old averaged a career-best 20.4 points and six rebounds in 82 games last season. Lopez didn't miss a game in any of his first three years in the league.
ABOUT THE BULLS (25-7): Chicago point guard Derrick Rose is also considered a game-time decision for Saturday's tilt as he continues to nurse a sore lower back. The reigning NBA most valuable player increased his participation in practice Friday, and head coach Tom Thibodeau was optimistic his star will return shortly. "We’ll see how he is (Saturday)," Thibodeau said. "We watched film, did very little drill work, some shooting and ran through some things."
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Chicago prevailed in the first two head-to-head meetings by a combined 36 points.
2. Lopez averages 17.2 points and 7.7 rebounds in 15 career games against the Bulls.