The Bulls sit 10th at 1-2 after a 124-120 home loss to Washington. Boston, 1-1 this season and 56-26 last season, is next on Monday.
Tenth place, thin margins. Chicago was 8th at 1-1 before the Wizards game and is 10th now. The Bulls are one game behind sixth-place Washington and a half game ahead of 11th. Seventy-nine games remain, and the current pace projects to 27-55.
Wilson carried the load. Caleb Wilson scored 30 with 14 rebounds and hit 9 of 11 at the line, but he shot 1-for-9 from three. Matas Buzelis added 21. Norman Powell scored 18 on 4-for-12 shooting, with four steals and four turnovers.
The bench took the damage. Starters scored 92 of the 120 points. The bench gave 28. Isaac Okoro finished a team-worst minus-21 across 14 minutes, and Tre Jones was minus-9 across 18. Buddy Hield's layup at the buzzer made it a four-point loss.
Availability decides Monday. Noa Essengue (head) and Patrick Williams (groin) were both moved to out Saturday, each with an estimated return of Monday. Nic Claxton is not due back until November 4. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Essengue was back on the bench Sunday.
What Boston brings. The Celtics are 1-1 and own a one-game win streak. Derrick White averaged 16.5 points last season and Payton Pritchard 17.0 over 79 games. Jayson Tatum played 16 games last season. Devin Carter is listed as out, illness.
A plan for Swain. The Chicago Sun-Times reported the Bulls are building a plan for rookie guard Dailyn Swain that involves the G League. Chicago took him 15th. His illness listing was cleared October 23.
When do the Bulls play the Celtics next?
The Bulls play at Boston on Monday, October 26, and again at Boston on October 30 in a Cup game.
Who is injured for the Bulls?
Patrick Williams (groin) and Noa Essengue (head) are listed as out with estimated returns of October 26. Nic Claxton (hamstring) is estimated back November 4.
