After a rough start, dropping 15 of their first 20 games, the Philadelphia 76ers carry a renewed sense of optimism as they prepare to face the host Chicago Bulls on Sunday afternoon.
Sixers star Paul George, who delivered a team-high 21 points and nine assists in a 102-94 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night, believes his team is turning a corner. KJ Martin added 20 points off the bench, while starters Tyrese Maxey and Guerschon Yabusele each contributed 16 points, giving George confidence in the direction Philadelphia is headed.
Chicago has also been focused on establishing its identity, particularly by shooting a high volume of three-pointers. Over their past 11 games, the Bulls have averaged 45.4 attempts from deep.
Despite going 21-for-50 (42.0 percent) from beyond the arc on Friday, the Bulls still fell short in a 132-123 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Zach LaVine led all scorers with 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting, including 5 of 9 from distance. Coby White added 19 points and nine assists, while Ayo Dosunmu posted 15 points.
Defense remains a significant concern for Chicago, which has allowed at least 124 points in four of its past five games. However, Philadelphia might not pose as much of a challenge offensively, as the 76ers entered Saturday with the second-fewest points per game in the NBA (105.0).
Sixers coach Nick Nurse understands that Philadelphia will need to rely on its defense and has seen improvements on that front.
Sunday’s game marks the first meeting of the season between the 76ers and Bulls.
