Keys to Chicago Bulls’ road game vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Chicago Bulls (7-10) visit the Milwaukee Bucks (12-4) tonight. The Bulls are coming off a 121-107 home win against the Celtics on Monday behind 28 points from DeMar DeRozan.

Chicago Bulls (7-10) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (12-4)

Wednesday, November 23 – 08:00 PM ET at Fiserv Forum

Chicago Bulls

• Points Per Game: 111.1 (18th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 111.3 (12th of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 32.7 (20th of 30)
• Pace: 100 (13th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 111.1 (20th of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 111.3 (10th of 30)
• Net Rating: -0.2 (19th of 30)

Milwaukee Bucks

• Points Per Game: 111.4 (16th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 106.9 (4th of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 32.8 (19th of 30)
• Pace: 99.6 (15th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 110.4 (21st of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 105.9 (1st of 30)
• Net Rating: +4.5 (5th of 30)

Long-range battle

Milwaukee struggled with defending the three-point line in recent years, with their losses often coming from teams torching them from long range -- they ranked last in the NBA in three-pointers allowed last season. 

However, the Bucks are much better at defending the three-point line sixteen games into the 2022/23 regular season -- they are 5th in the league in OPP 3PA (31.1) and OPP 3PM (11.0). Simply put, the Bucks are no longer getting torched from distance, which was the easiest recipe to beat them before. 

Although the Bulls don't shoot a high volume of threes (32.5), they rank 13th in the league in 3P%, converting 36.1 percent of their long-range attempts. If they can replicate their shooting performance from Monday's win against the Celtics -- they shot 14-of-29 (48.3 percent) from beyond the arc -- Chicago might have a chance to secure their second straight victory against a legitimate title contender.

The Bucks' depth

Depth has been a positive for the Bucks through 16 games. No one questioned the talent of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday, but the rest of the roster was an area of concern. However, the likes of Brook Lopez and Jevon Carter have stepped up for Milwaukee.

Lopez is playing arguably the best basketball of his career on both ends of the court. He is averaging 16.2 points on offense while shooting 39 percent from three-point range on 6.3 attempts per game. He’s been a very consistent shooter, hitting three or more three-pointers in eight of his 16 games this season.

The one-time NBA champion has also dominated on defense and controlled the paint. He leads the league in blocks (2.8 per game), serving as the team's go-to rim protector behind Giannis and Co. on the perimeter.

Carter has been incredible as a starter; he’s displayed great shooting and defense. He makes 39.1 percent of his three-point attempts, averaging 9.1 points and 1.6 steals per game.

Antetokounmpo will be his usual freakish, dominating self, but the Bulls have to prevent the Bucks from getting significant contributions from their role players.

Noteworthy

• The Bucks won the last meeting, 116-100 on April 27. Antetokounmpo had a game-high 33 points.

• Milwaukee beat Chicago five of the last six times.

• The Bulls are 2-8 in the last 10 matchups against the Bucks.

• Bulls’ projected lineup: Vucevic, Williams, DeRozan, LaVine, Dosunmu

• Bucks’ projected lineup: Lopez, Antetokounmpo, Allen, Carter, Holiday