Bulls at Kings
The Chicago Bulls traded away Nikola Mirotic last week to signal an even sharper turn toward a rebuild, but that doesn't mean they've started tanking. The Bulls will try to snap out of a six-game skid when they visit the Western Conference-worst Sacramento Kings on Monday.
The Bulls took off when Mirotic returned to the lineup in early December but are struggling with point guard Kris Dunn (concussion protocol) out and Zach LaVine still trying to find a rhythm with his new team. "We're really a good group of guys; spirits are high regardless we win or lose," LaVine told reporters after a 113-103 setback at the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. "We're going to battle, talk about it. We're in a little bit of a slump right now, but our spirits are still high. We're not down on ourselves. We're going to get it clicking and get it together and change this thing around." The Kings are trying to embark on their own youth movement and were competitive in games against the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks on Friday and Saturday before falling just short. Center Willie Cauley-Stein, 24, was solid in both losses and is looking to expand his role.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), NBCS California (Sacramento)
ABOUT THE BULLS (18-34): LaVine eclipsed 30 minutes for the first time since returning from knee surgery on Jan. 13 when he logged 31 minutes on Saturday. "He's still trying to find his rhythm," Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters of LaVine. "I think he's turning down some pretty darned good looks and turning them into tough shots and tough contested midrange shots, and that was an issue for us. ... He's had stretches the last few games where he has shown what he can do. But now it's about getting his rhythm and timing and getting him to understand when we produce good shots he's got to raise up and shoot those." LaVine is averaging 14.5 points on 38.2 percent shooting but went over 20 points in each of the last two games and is 6-of-10 from 3-point range in that span.
ABOUT THE KINGS (16-36): Cauley-Stein is taking on more minutes with the club giving veterans Kosta Koufos and Zach Randolph days off, and he averaged 13.5 points on 13-of-23 shooting and seven rebounds in the last two games while asking to be a bigger part of the offense. "That's what I'm trying get to (the coaches), that's why I'm trying to expand my game," Cauley-Stein told the Sacramento Bee. "I have to have (the coaches) believe that's me, I have to have (the front office) believe that's me. It's starting to show, they're starting to believe that I've got some juice." Rookie point guard De'Aaron Fox is taking on a larger role as well and is averaging 17.2 points over the last five games -- six points higher than his season average.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Koufos totaled 12 points, 10 rebounds and 19 minutes in the last two games after going off for 17 points and 17 boards in 37 minutes at New Orleans on Tuesday.
2. Bulls rookie PF Lauri Markkanen (personal) missed the last two games but is expected to join the team in Sacramento.
3. Cauley-Stein scored 10 points in a 107-106 win at Chicago on Dec. 1.