Magic at Bulls
The Chicago Bulls look to defeat Orlando for the ninth time in the past 11 meetings when they host the Magic on Wednesday. Chicago has recorded six consecutive home victories against Orlando, including a 90-80 triumph on Dec. 21.
Power forward Lauri Markkanen scored a season-best 32 points in the recent win over the Magic as the Bulls allowed a season low for points. Chicago has shown improvement of late with three wins in its last five games though it lost 95-89 to the host Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The Magic lost five of their past seven games and were routed 125-100 by the host Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Center Nikola Vucevic is expected to be fine after suffering a calf injury and has this to say about the performance against the Hornets: "We just were never be at a level we needed to be at to win this game."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (16-20): Point guard D.J. Augustin (ankle) sat out Monday after averaging 23.3 points and 6.7 assists over the previous three games and he expects to play against the Bulls. "I've been doing a lot of treatment and icing, so it should be a lot better by Wednesday," Augustin told reporters. "I wouldn't say this is a bad ankle sprain. It's actually more in my foot area, but I definitely think it won't take much time for me to be back from." Power forward Aaron Gordon had a team-best 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting while Vucevic had 12 points before departing in the third quarter.
ABOUT THE BULLS (10-27): First-round pick Chandler Hutchison displayed his potential by scoring 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting in just 14 minutes during Sunday's 95-89 loss to the Toronto Raptors. "I thought Chandler had a good game," Chicago coach Jim Boylen told reporters afterward of the small forward. "Great kid and a hard worker, extremely coachable and teachable and he's reliable, a good young player." Shooting guard Zach LaVine will be looking to bounce back after scoring just 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split two meetings this season with the Magic's win coming in Mexico City on Dec. 13.
2. Orlando SF Jonathon Simmons (ankle) sat out Monday but may be able to play against the Bulls.
3. Markkanen had 18 points and 10 rebounds against Toronto for his second straight double-double.