Nuggets, Bucks, Wolves Fill the Bulls' Preseason Calendar

Nuggets Up First. Chicago plays at Denver tonight on ESPN, the toughest measuring stick of this preseason stretch. The Nuggets enter rested, with four days off before the game; the Bulls enter on one day of rest and are playing their second game in the last seven days.

Why Denver Matters. Nikola Jokic averaged a near triple-double last season — 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.7 assists — with Jamal Murray running the offense at 25.4 points and 7.1 assists a game. Denver finished last season at plus-5.2 in net rating; the Bulls finished at minus-5.3. That gap is the real test tonight, not the preseason score.

Short Week Ahead. After Denver, the Bulls play at Milwaukee on October 14, then host Minnesota on October 16 to close the preseason schedule. The regular season starts October 21 at Toronto. None of the three games this week count toward the record, which stays 0-0 regardless of outcome.

Five Day-To-Day. Jalen Smith, Zach Collins, Jaylin Sellers, Tre Jones and Matas Buzelis are all day-to-day, each injured in one of the first two preseason games. Whether any of them play at Denver tonight will say more about the frontcourt and backcourt depth than preseason minutes outside of that lineup.

Claxton's Longer Wait. Nic Claxton remains out with a hamstring injury and isn't expected back until October 21, the regular-season opener at Toronto. He is the one injury on this list with no shot at playing any of the three preseason games left.

Preseason Split. Chicago beat Phoenix 124-117 on October 7, led by Jalen Smith's 9 points and Norman Powell's 8. Two nights later, Memphis beat the Bulls 100-104, with Caleb Wilson scoring 21 and Powell adding 17. Neither result touches the record, which opens at 0-0 on October 21.