The Bulls open the 2026-27 season tonight in Toronto and play five games by October 28, including a back-to-back on October 23 and 24. Nic Claxton is out with an estimated return of November 4, and six others carry day-to-day tags into the opener.
Opener in Toronto. Wednesday, October 21, at the Raptors is Tiago Splitter's first game that counts. Neither side comes in tired, and both last played on the same night. Toronto went 46-36 last season with a 2.9 net rating. Chicago went 31-51 at -5.3. That gap is the measuring stick for this week.
Kawhi is the problem. Kawhi Leonard averaged 27.9 points in 65 games last season. RJ Barrett added 19.3 points, and Scottie Barnes put up 18.1 points with 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Chicago brings back a defense that ranked 22nd last season. Toronto lists Nate Bittle as out with a right foot and leg injury.
The middle of the week. Friday, October 23 is at Milwaukee, and Saturday, October 24 is at home against Washington. That's the only back-to-back of the week. The Bulls won 125-104 in Milwaukee on October 14, but that was an exhibition. The Wizards game is the second night of the back-to-back, so legs and rotation depth come into play.
Boston and New York close it. Monday, October 26 is at the Celtics, and Wednesday, October 28 brings the Knicks to the United Center. That makes three road games out of five to start the season. The Knicks are an old rival, and the home date ends the first stretch of Splitter's tenure.
Claxton still sidelined. Nic Claxton is out with a hamstring injury and has an estimated return of November 4, which keeps him out of all five games. Last season he averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds, with 3.7 assists. Jalen Smith, who averaged 6.7 rebounds in 20.7 minutes, and Zach Collins are the bigs behind him. Collins is day-to-day with a right toe injury.
The day-to-day list. Isaac Okoro and Tobe Awaka have knee injuries, and Leonard Miller has a right groin injury. Dailyn Swain and Jordan Hawkins are both sick. All five are day-to-day with tonight as their estimated return. Swain and Hawkins came off the out list on October 20. Miller's status matters: he averaged 28.8 minutes over his last 10 games last season.
Options picked up. Bulls.com announced on October 20 that the team exercised 2027-28 options on Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue. Buzelis played 77 games last season and averaged 16.3 points. Essengue is 19 and in his second season. Neither move is a surprise, but both commit the team to the young core.
When do the Bulls play their first game of the 2026-27 season?
Wednesday, October 21, at Toronto. It is Tiago Splitter's first regular-season game as Bulls head coach.
When will Nic Claxton return for the Bulls?
Claxton is out with a hamstring injury and his estimated return is November 4. That keeps him out of the first five games.
