Game No. 12.
Chicago Bulls at Mavericks
(2 p.m. Sunday, American Airlines Center, Dallas)
TV: Fox Sports Southwest
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM (Univision 1270 AM, Spanish)
About the Mavericks (6-5): They will be trying to avenge the 118-108 loss in Chicago two weeks ago, which dropped the Mavericks to 2-4 at the time. They had won four in a row since then before Friday’s 112-109 loss at Milwaukee. Luka Dončić missed the first meeting. In his place, Jalen Brunson, who grew up in suburban Chicago, had 31 points and became the first Maverick not named Luka to have at least 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists in a game since Deron Williams in 2015 . . . The Mavericks once again are likely to be without Josh Richardson, Maxi Kleber Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Brunson and Dwight Powell, all sidelined for the last three games for COVID-19 safety protocols . . . Of their other 12 players, the only ones who didn’t play against Milwaukee on Friday were two-way players Nate Hinton and Tyler Bey . . . This is the Mavericks’ only time at home during a six-game stretch and the fourth in a five-game run against Eastern Conference opponents . . . In five games since missing the Bulls’ game, Dončić has averaged a shade over 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists per game . . . Tim Hardaway Jr. has been sizzling of late, averaging 23.4 points per game and hitting 26-of-50 3-pointers in the last five games . . . The Mavericks are third in the league in defensive rating and opponents are making just 31.6 percent of their 3-point tries, lowest in the NBA.
About the Bulls (4-8): This will be their finale of a six-game trip on which they are 1-4 so far, including Friday’s 127-125 overtime loss at Oklahoma City. They actually won the first game of the trip in Portland . . . In the OKC game, Zach LaVine had 35 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He hit 8-of-14 3-pointers. The Bulls led that game by 10 points with under two minutes to play, but couldn’t hold the lead . . . In the first meeting with the Mavericks, LaVine had 39 points, 21 of them in the first quarter. For the season, LaVine leads the Bulls at just over 28 points per game . . . All five games on the trip have been decided by four points or fewer . . . Lauri Markkanen, entering his fourth season, returned from a seven-game absence to score 16 points against the Thunder. The 7-footer had averaged 20 points and hit 10-of-21 3-pointers in the first three games before being sidelined . . . Center Wendell Carter Jr. has averaged 15.5 points and 10 rebounds over the last four games . . . The Bulls have significant defensive issues. They are next-to-last in the league in points allowed (121.6) and are 24th in the league in both field-goal percentage allowed and 3-point percentage allowed . . . Only three times in 12 games have they held an opponent below 110 points. One of them was against the Mavericks on Jan. 3.
Twitter: @ESefko
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