Bulls at Magic
The Chicago Bulls have ground to make up in the race for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs as they travel to Orlando on Monday in search of a season sweep of the struggling Magic. Chicago slipped a game behind Atlanta for the fifth seed after a 105-93 loss at Miami on Sunday, the Bulls' second straight defeat and their fourth in five games.
The Magic have lost 14 of their last 16 and are coming off a 120-88 thumping against Boston. They're only one game ahead of Charlotte, which holds the worst record in the league. The Bulls have won four straight meetings and eight of the last nine, but their three wins against Orlando this season have come by a combined nine points.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, WCIU (Chicago), Fox Sports Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE BULLS (43-37): Chicago is still far from healthy as the playoffs rapidly approach. Whether point guard Derrick Rose will be able to return is still up in the air, and center Joakim Noah (foot) and forward Taj Gibson (knee) are questionable for Monday. "We just have to keep moving forward and concentrate on improving," coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "Hopefully we will get a couple of guys back soon. I don't want us thinking about the playoffs. I want us thinking about the game against the Orlando Magic."
ABOUT THE MAGIC (20-60): Orlando is taking its lumps with veterans Arron Afflalo and Glen Davis shut down for the season with injuries and point guard Jameer Nelson listed as day-to-day with a sprained ankle. The injuries leave the Magic with two rookies and two second-year players in the starting lineup. "We have to get better," rookie forward Kyle O'Quinn told reporters. "We have to take advantage of those teaching points. Those guys out there playing, we just have to learn everything we can from them."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bulls SG Richard Hamilton is eligible to return after serving a one-game suspension Sunday for throwing an elbow at Toronto's DeMar DeRozan.
2. Orlando is 6-21 in games decided by six points or fewer and 0-27 when scoring fewer than 90 points.
3. Chicago PF Carlos Boozer has recorded double-doubles in 12 of his last 14 games, including 16 points and 20 rebounds Sunday against Miami.