March 23--The Bulls talked about how critical this four-game homestand proved for their playoff chances. Their opportunity to sweep it comes Wednesday night, when they begin a home-and-away, back-to-back against the lowly Knicks.
"They're really important," Doug McDermott said of the Knicks' meetings. "Getting off to a good start at home is huge. I feel we have the advantage at home. We just gotta come out like we have the last couple games and we'll be fine."
The Bulls have built double-digit, first-quarter leads in two of the last three games. They begin Wednesday percentage points ahead of the Pistons for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and a half-game behind the seventh-place Pacers.
The Bulls have a road game against the Pacers and a home game against the Pistons next week.
"Now that we have so much on the line, every game matters so much," McDermott said. "We're definitely aware of what's ahead."
The Bulls are expected to have everyone available but Joakim Noah, E'Twaun Moore and Cameron Bairstow against the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony is scheduled to return from missing one game with migraine headaches.
The Bulls and Knicks have split two meetings thus far.
