Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls ended a losing streak on Wednesday night. The Charlotte Hornets saw theirs continue. 

Led by the dynamic duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls beat the Hornets 121-109 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, ending a two-game losing streak. 

The Hornets are reeling, meanwhile, having now lost six straight. 

The two teams continue moving in opposite directions in the playoff standings. While the 34-21 Bulls remain in third place in the Eastern Conference, Charlotte's recent funk has them back at .500 on the year (28-28) and in ninth place. 

If the season ended today, they'd be in the play-in tournament. Not ideal for LaMelo Ball and the exciting Hornets, though they have plenty of time to right the ship. 

Key Stats

DeMar DeRozan, CHI: 36 points, five rebounds, four assists

Zach LaVine, CHI: 27 points, seven rebounds, five assists

Nikola Vucevic, CHI: 18 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks

LaMelo Ball, CHA: 33 points, nine rebounds, five assists

Miles Bridges, CHA: 22 points, five rebounds, five assists

Terry Rozier, CHA: 16 points (6-of-18 from the field, 2-of-11 from three)

You Can't Stop DeMar DeRozan

And honestly, at this point, you can't even really hope to contain him. There's nothing you can do except enjoy the show.

Heck, he was even sinking threes on Wednesday.

DeRozan is now averaging 34.5 points per game in six February contests. If ever there was a player making a push in the MVP conversation, it's been DeRozan of late. 

Nobody expected DeRozan to be this good in Chicago. He's taken his game to another level, and the Bulls have to be taken very seriously as a title contender because of it. 

LaMelo Ball Remains Very, Very Fun To Watch

Every game you get a highlight from Ball. Most times, more than one. Wednesday was no exception. 

Ball wasn't initially named as an All-Star this season, though got in as an injury replacement, a well-deserved honor for the young guard. On a night when the Bulls really gave it to the Hornets, Ball was one of the few bright spots. 

What's Next?

The Bulls will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. The Hornets travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons that same day at 7 p.m. ET. 

BR Video

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso breaks down film on how he guards some of the league’s best scorers, including Stephen Curry and LaMelo Ball, with the help of #NBACourtOptix powered by Microsoft Azure ➡️ https://www.NBACourtOptix.NBA.com

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers because of back tightness and spasms, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

It will be the second straight game LaVine has missed after sitting out Friday's 122-115 win over the Indiana Pacers.

The guard first popped up on the injury report last Wednesday with the same ailment but played through it Thursday, totaling 42 minutes in the overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors. 

DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic have elevated their game offensively with LaVine out, combining for 67 points Friday. Troy Brown Jr. and Ayo Dosunmu also usually see extra playing time and could be tasked with big roles against the 76ers.

There is still a significant drop-off when LaVine is unavailable.

The 26-year-old, who was recently named an All-Star for the second straight season, is averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. It comes after setting a career high with 27.4 points per game in 2020-21, seventh-most in the NBA.

He has taken fewer shots this season with DeRozan in the lineup, but the two have worked well together to guide Chicago to the best record in the Eastern Conference (33-19).

The Bulls are hoping to secure their first playoff berth since the 2016-17 season, but they can afford to take a conservative approach with LaVine to ensure he's healthy when needed most.   

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine will miss Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse because of back spasms. 

LaVine was listed as questionable for Thursday night's game against the Toronto Raptors but played through the injury to the tune of 15 points in 42 minutes. 

Losing LaVine for any period of time certainly isn't good for the Bulls. The 26-year-old is averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from deep.

He has combined with DeMar DeRozan to form one of the best one-two punches in the NBA. 

When LaVine is sidelined, rookie Ayo Dosunmu has taken on a larger role and shone when given the opportunity. He's averaging 7.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 42.0 percent from three. 

Chicago is 32-19, good for first place in the Eastern Conference, and will need LaVine at full strength to hold on to that spot with the Miami Heat (33-20) and Philadelphia 76ers (31-20) both just one game back. 

San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl has generated plenty of interest leading up to the Feb. 10 trade deadline. However, the Spurs aren't willing to part ways with the Austrian for cheap. 

San Antonio is looking for a first-round pick and a "quality player" in exchange for Poeltl, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls are among the teams interested in the veteran.

Stein first reported the Raptors' interest in Poeltl on Jan. 14, saying the franchise has "been looking for center upgrades for some time." 

Poeltl was drafted by the Raptors ninth overall in 2016. The franchise traded him to the Spurs as part of the Kawhi Leonard deal in 2018, and he has spent four of his six NBA seasons in San Antonio.

The 26-year-old is in the midst of his most productive season in the league, averaging 13.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 61.4 percent from the floor in 43 games for the 12th-place Spurs. 

Poeltl signed a three-year, $26.25 million extension with the Spurs during the 2020 offseason and is making $8.75 million this season. He is set to make $9.4 million during the 2022-23 campaign before becoming a free agent. 

Toronto's interest in Poeltl doesn't come as a surprise as the franchise could use an upgrade from Precious Achiuwa, Chris Boucher and Khem Birch. In addition, the Raptors are currently in a playoff spot with a 27-23 record (seventh in the Eastern Conference) and could use some more veteran experience.

As for the Bulls, Poeltl would likely serve as a backup to starting center Nikola Vucevic, so it's unclear if the franchise would be willing to give up a lot for him. However, Chicago could use the depth, as it is first in the East with a 32-19 record. 

The Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets are all in contention for that top spot. With things incredibly tight in the standings, it shouldn't be surprising that the Bulls are interested in adding some depth for the postseason. 

The Chicago Bulls reportedly could be players for guard Dennis Schroder and forward Paul Millsap leading up to the Feb. 10 trade deadline.

On Wednesday's episode of the HoopsHype Podcast, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype classified Schroder as a "name to watch" for Chicago if the Boston Celtics decide to trade him.

Scotto also noted that Millsap could be on Chicago's radar if the Brooklyn Nets buy him out following the moves they make at the deadline.

Chicago undoubtedly needs some backcourt help with a pair of key players on the shelf.

Starting point guard Lonzo Ball is out with a torn meniscus in his knee that required surgery, while shooting guard Alex Caruso recently underwent surgery to repair a fractured wrist.

With neither player particularly close to returning, Schroder could be a quality fill-in with the capability of moving into a sixth man role if one or both of Ball and Caruso return.

Schroder had to settle for a one-year contract in free agency, meaning Boston could be open to trading him rather than possibly losing him for nothing during the offseason.

In 45 games this season, including 25 starts, the 28-year-old German is averaging 14.6 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 three-pointers made, which are numbers that are right in line with his career averages.

Two of Schroder's best seasons came in 2018-19 and 2019-20 with the Oklahoma City Thunder when current Bulls head coach Billy Donovan was serving as OKC's head coach.

Schroder was especially good in 2019-20, averaging 18.9 points, 4.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 three-pointers made per game.

Given his familiarity with Donovan, Schroder could be a great fit in Chicago and a solid offensive option alongside Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

Millsap, who is on the verge of turning 37, is a four-time All-Star but seems to be nearing the end of his career.

The former Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets star has appeared in only 24 games this season, averaging a career-low 3.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per contest.

That production is far off Millsap's solid career averages of 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

The Bulls wouldn't need that level of statistical output from Millsap, but he could help Chicago's frontcourt depth significantly, especially with both Derrick Jones Jr. and Patrick Williams out due to injury.

There isn't a ton of quality depth behind center Nikola Vucevic, but Millsap could help change that if Brooklyn cuts him loose.

Millsap is a prime buyout candidate given how things haven't worked out between him and the Nets, so it stands to reason that the Bulls will have a chance to add him to the fold at some point.

There is little doubt that the Bulls will be buyers around the deadline, as they are first in the Eastern Conference at 32-18 after missing the playoffs in the past four seasons.