The Chicago Bulls look to continue their recent strong play at home on Tuesday night when they face the reeling Toronto Raptors.
The Bulls won 10 of their last 14 home games before their just-concluded three-game road trip. They fell short in the first two stops before posting a 104-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
DeMar DeRozan followed up a 32-point performance versus the Lakers on Thursday by scoring 12 of his 20 points against the Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter. He finished with seven rebounds and six assists versus Portland.
DeRozan, who spent his first nine NBA seasons with Toronto, has flourished against the Raptors in three meetings this season. He erupted for 33 points in a 104-103 overtime victory on Oct. 27, 19 in a 121-108 setback in Toronto on Nov. 24 and 24 in a 116-110 road win on Jan. 18.
Ayo Dosunmu collected 11 points and five assists on Sunday while being elevated into the starting lineup in place of Patrick Williams, who is sidelined by a left foot injury. Dosunmu sank a 3-pointer with 21.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give Chicago some breathing room against the Trail Blazers.
While Chicago is coming off a positive, Toronto has dropped five in a row and nine of its last 10 following a 126-125 setback to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
New acquisition Jordan Nwora recorded 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists off the bench for the Raptors, who were without starters RJ Barrett (knee swelling), Immanuel Quickley (quadriceps contusion) and Jakob Poeltl (ankle sprain).
Scottie Barnes collected 24 points and eight assists on Sunday. He had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the October meeting in Chicago, then 13, 10 and six versus the Bulls the following month and 31, seven and six on Jan. 18.
The Raptors have dropped five in a row on the road to fall to 6-17 away from home this season.
