The Chicago Bulls are enduring a tough stretch, with losses in four of their last six games, and they’ll receive little sympathy from the Washington Wizards.
The Bulls aim to get back on track in an NBA Cup East Group C game on Tuesday night when they visit the nation’s capital to face the Wizards, who have lost 11 straight games.
While Washington has consistently found itself on the losing end lately, Chicago is keeping the scoreboard operator busy due to its generous defense.
Case in point: The Bulls dropped a 142-131 decision to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, marking the third time in six games they’ve allowed an opponent to reach 140 points.
Chicago is permitting an NBA-worst 123.9 points per game this season, just ahead of the Wizards (122.9), heading into play on Monday.
Zach LaVine led Chicago with 29 points on Saturday night, marking the third straight game he has topped the team’s scoring. He is averaging a team-best 22.7 points per game this season.
Nikola Vucevic added 26 points and eight rebounds against Memphis. He is averaging a team-leading 9.7 boards per contest to go along with 20.5 points.
Rookie Matas Buzelis contributed a career-high 14 points on Saturday for the Bulls, who couldn’t overcome the Grizzlies shooting a robust 57.3 percent from the floor and 45.2 percent from 3-point range.
The Wizards’ losing streak began after they recorded a home-and-home sweep of the Atlanta Hawks in late October.
Rookie Alexandre Sarr collected 14 rebounds and matched Bilal Coulibaly with 17 points in a 115-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
Malcolm Brogdon, who scored 15 points, provided a calming influence amid the team’s considerable troubles.
Rookie Kyshawn George recorded 15 points and five rebounds while starting in place of Jordan Poole, who missed his first game of the season due to left hip flexor soreness. George has scored in double figures in seven games this season and grabbed at least five rebounds in six contests.
