The Week Ahead: Milwaukee Tonight, Toronto in a Week

By the Bulls Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 14

Chicago closes a three-game road swing in Milwaukee tonight, then gets one more tune-up at home against Minnesota before the record that counts opens October 21 in Toronto. Collins and Claxton are both targeting returns in the week between those two games.

Bulls Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Back-to-back on the road. Tonight in Milwaukee is Chicago's second straight game away from the United Center and third in seven days, with the preseason record now 1-2 after back-to-back losses. Okoro, Sellers and Awaka are all day-to-day with a return target of today, so Splitter may still be shorthanded even with two days of rest built in before tip-off.

Bucks still rebuilding too. Milwaukee went 32-50 last season under Taylor Jenkins, with a defensive rating of 118.3 that ranked among the league's worst and a net rating of -6.1. Kevin Porter Jr., Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner carry the scoring load now; Brayden Burries and Nate Ament are both day-to-day for Jenkins' side tonight.

One more tune-up. Minnesota visits the United Center on Friday for Chicago's fourth and final preseason game. It is the last chance to get real minutes into anyone still working back from camp before games start counting toward the record.

The one that counts. The Bulls' regular season opens October 21 at Toronto, then turns right back to Milwaukee two days later for a rematch. That two-city trip, not tonight's exhibition, is the one worth circling on the calendar.

Return dates line up. Zach Collins is targeted to return October 16, against Minnesota. Claxton's target is October 21 — the opener itself — meaning the Bulls could have their starting center back right when the games start to count.

Four games, one record. Milwaukee tonight, Minnesota at home Friday, then Toronto for the opener October 21 and a quick return to Milwaukee on October 23. Three of those four are exhibitions; only the trip to Toronto moves the record off 0-0, where it has sat through three preseason games already.

On deck Next up is Minnesota at the United Center Friday, then the regular-season opener October 21 at Toronto and a quick turn back to Milwaukee October 23.

When do the Bulls play their first regular-season game?

October 21 at Toronto. Every game before that, including tonight's trip to Milwaukee and Friday's game against Minnesota, is preseason.

Who is expected back for the Bulls before the opener?

Zach Collins is targeted for October 16 against Minnesota, and Nic Claxton is targeted for October 21, the opener itself.