Mavs Eye 3rd Straight Win Against Hobbled Bulls in Chi-Town

The Dallas Mavericks (36-28) are riding a modest two-game winning streak as they head to the Windy City to face the banged-up Chicago Bulls (31-33) on Monday night. The contest at the United Center is scheduled for a 7:00 pm CST tip-off and will be televised locally on WFAA.

The Mavs are coming off victories over the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies, both top teams in the Western Conference. Luka Doncic has been on a tear, averaging 33.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists over the last four games.

Meanwhile, the Bulls have hit a rough patch, losing four of their last six games. Their star guards Zach LaVine (foot) and Lonzo Ball (knee) are both sidelined, leaving DeMar DeRozan to carry the scoring load.

For the Mavericks, this game represents an opportunity to keep building momentum as they jockey for playoff positioning in the extremely competitive Western Conference. With a relatively clean bill of health, head coach Jason Kidd will have his full complement of players available.

“We know Chicago is dealing with some injuries, but they’re a tough team that will scrap and claw,” said Kidd. “We have to come out with the right mentality and take care of business.”

The Mavs are 3-point favorites on the road, a testament to the Bulls’ depleted roster. A win would give Dallas its first three-game streak since late January and provide a confidence boost heading into a difficult stretch of their schedule.

Following the Chicago game, the Mavericks return home to face fellow playoff contenders like the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics. Stringing together wins and gaining ground in the standings will be pivotal over the final few weeks of the regular season.

For the Bulls, staying afloat until reinforcements arrive will be the top priority. They’ll lean heavily on DeRozan’s scoring punch and hope role players like Patrick Beverley, Coby White and Andre Drummond can provide enough support.

“We’re battling, that’s what this team does,” said Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. “The guys have had a resilient spirit all year long. We know it’s an uphill battle missing some key guys, but we’ll show up and compete.”

The matchup pits the Mavericks’ third-ranked defensive rating (110.2) against the Bulls’ 23rd-ranked offense (112.2 rating). Dallas will need to control the paint and limit Chicago’s transition opportunities.

Expect a raucous environment in Chicago as the Bulls faithful try to will their shorthanded team to an upset victory. But if the Mavericks play up to their potential, the talent disparity could prove too much to overcome for the undermanned Bulls.

This is a game Dallas should win to maintain their push for playoff positioning. Failure to take care of business against a depleted opponent would be a disappointing setback. The Mavs are laser-focused on stringing together wins and peaking at the right time as the postseason beckons.

While the road ahead remains daunting, Dallas knows they must capitalize on games like this against injury-riddled teams. Each win is precious as the jockeying for seeding continues in the ultra-competitive Western Conference playoff race. Monday night in Chicago represents a golden opportunity the Mavericks cannot afford to squander.