The Atlanta Hawks will try to rebound from a disappointing last-second loss as they host the struggling Chicago Bulls on Saturday night in the second game of a back-to-back set.
The Hawks allowed 40 points in the first quarter and overcame a 24-point deficit against the Detroit Pistons on Friday, only to lose 122-121 on a bucket by Cade Cunningham with 8.5 seconds left. Atlanta had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Onyeka Okongwu’s shot under the basket was blocked by Cunningham.
The Bulls have dropped four consecutive games, most recently a 135-119 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
This will be the first of four meetings between the Bulls and Hawks this season. Chicago won two of three games against Atlanta last year but has lost its past two games in Atlanta.
Saturday’s game marks Atlanta’s third back-to-back of the season. The Hawks were swept in the first and split the second set.
In Friday’s loss, the Hawks wasted a 35-point, 13-assist effort from Trae Young, who is averaging 24.9 points and 11.1 assists per game. Jalen Johnson, averaging 19 points and 10.4 rebounds, added 20 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Dyson Daniels had a career-high seven steals against the Pistons, bringing his season total to 24. The seven steals are the most in a single game in the NBA this season and the most by an Atlanta player since Josh Smith’s seven against Dallas on Feb. 26, 2010.
No. 1 overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher had a poor shooting night on Friday, scoring just seven points after his career-best 33-point performance against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
The Bulls, who traded star DeMar DeRozan over the summer, have few well-known players on their roster.
Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic scored 25 points against Minnesota and has scored at least 20 points in four games. Over his past four games, Vucevic is averaging 22.5 points on 69.8 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
Vucevic has consistently been a tough matchup for the Hawks. In 42 career games against them, he is averaging 17.4 points on 51.6 percent shooting, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He has a double-double in seven of his past 10 games against Atlanta.
Coby White is averaging 19.6 points per game, while Josh Giddey is averaging 13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and a team-leading 7.0 assists.
The Hawks continue to play without DeAndre Hunter (right knee soreness), Bogdan Bogdanovic (right hamstring), Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder), and Vit Krejci (right adductor strain). For Chicago, Lonzo Ball (right wrist sprain) is out, while Zach LaVine (right adductor strain) is listed as questionable.
