The Bulls open the week at home against a Knicks team playing its second night in a row, then go to Boston, Philadelphia and New York. At 1-3 and 11th, Chicago has to bank a win before the road swing gets heavy.
Wednesday, a tired opponent. Chicago gets a day of rest. New York gets none. The Knicks come in on the back end of a back-to-back, at 1-3 and coming off a win. That is the edge on paper, and the Bulls have to cash it, because the next three games are away from the United Center.
Brunson and Towns. Jalen Brunson is averaging 22.8 points. Karl-Anthony Towns is at 22.5 points and 14.0 rebounds a game, and with Claxton sidelined, Chicago's thin frontcourt draws the hard assignment. Mike Brown's offense sits at a 106.1 rating, so it is beatable. Jose Alvarado is nursing a left ankle problem, and his status is uncertain.
Friday, back to Boston. Days after the 134-99 beating, the Bulls go back to Boston for a game on the Emirates NBA Cup slate. It is the same defense, and it carries a 120.2 rating. The Sun-Times' Joe Cowley flagged "right-now" issues as the schedule toughens. This is that schedule.
Weekend off, then Philly. There is no game Saturday or Sunday, and that is the only real breather on the calendar. Monday is at Philadelphia, the middle stop of a road swing that runs Boston, Philadelphia, New York. Whatever the Bulls fix during those two days has to travel.
The rematch that matters. The second Knicks game, Wednesday, November 4, is the one to circle. It is the estimated return date for Nic Claxton and his hamstring. If he makes it, Chicago gets its center back for the end of the trip. If not, Jalen Smith and Zach Collins keep carrying the middle.
Who's banged up. Patrick Williams, with the groin, and Tobe Awaka, with the ankle, both have October 28 as their estimated return date, so both are game-time calls against New York. Leonard Miller has been soaking up the slack at 28.8 minutes a night over his last 10 games, up 13.1.
Where it stands. Chicago sits half a game behind Orlando for 10th and 1.5 back of Cleveland for sixth. The power rankings dropped the Bulls from 23rd to 27th, and the current pace works out to 21-61. A home win over a team on no rest is the cheapest way to start changing that.
When will Nic Claxton make his debut for the Bulls?
His estimated return from the hamstring injury is November 4, the night the Bulls play at New York. He is out until then.
Will Patrick Williams play against the Knicks?
Williams has an estimated return date of October 28, the day of the Knicks game, but he has not been cleared from his groin injury. His status is a game-time call.
