DeRozan, Bulls to host Ayton and the Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers (19-48, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (33-35, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Chicago; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls host Deandre Ayton and the Portland Trail Blazers in out-of-conference action.
The Bulls have gone 17-17 at home. Chicago allows 113.6 points to opponents and has been outscored by 1.5 points per game.
The Trail Blazers are 8-24 in road games. Portland is 8-31 against opponents with a winning record.
The Bulls' 11.7 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.1 more made shots on average than the 11.6 per game the Trail Blazers allow. The Trail Blazers average 11.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 fewer made shots on average than the 14.5 per game the Bulls give up.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Bulls won 104-96 in the last matchup on Jan. 29.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeRozan is averaging 23.2 points and 5.3 assists for the Bulls. Alex Caruso is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Ayton is scoring 15.7 points per game and averaging 11.1 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Anfernee Simons is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 6-4, averaging 115.0 points, 44.5 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 6.4 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.6 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 110.3 points, 43.8 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.4 points.
INJURIES: Bulls: Coby White: out (hip), Zach LaVine: out for season (ankle), Patrick Williams: out for season (foot), Julian Phillips: out (foot), Lonzo Ball: out for season (knee).
Trail Blazers: Malcolm Brogdon: out (elbow), Jerami Grant: out (hamstring), Robert Williams III: out for season (knee), Matisse Thybulle: out (ankle), Shaedon Sharpe: out (abdominal).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
