In a matchup of two excellent shooting guards, Zach LaVine and the Bulls will host Victor Oladipo and the Rockets on Monday night. For Oladipo, a two-time All-Star, it will be his Houston debut after being acquired on Saturday in the trade that sent James Harden to Brooklyn.
The Rockets were extremely shorthanded during their last two games (one win, one loss) in San Antonio, with only nine and eight active players for each game, respectively. But that should change in Chicago, with Oladipo joining the starting lineup and veterans Eric Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins each probable to return following minor leg injuries.
John Wall (sore left knee) and Danuel House Jr. (self-isolation) remain out, while Sterling Brown (right lower leg soreness) is questionable.
The Bulls will enter Monday’s game with significant momentum, coming off a surprising 117-101 victory (box score) in Dallas on Sunday. Power forward Lauri Markkanen led the way with 29 points and 10 rebounds.
Here’s when you should tune in to see Monday’s game:
- Date: Monday, Jan. 18
- Time: 7:00 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
- Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets
- Guard: Victor Oladipo
- Guard: Ben McLemore
- Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
- Forward: PJ Tucker
- Center: Christian Wood
Chicago Bulls
- Guard: Coby White
- Guard: Zach LaVine
- Forward: Patrick Williams
- Forward: Lauri Markkanen
- Center: Wendell Carter Jr.
There could be the potential for some tired legs on Monday, given that the Bulls (5-8) will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back in two different cities. However, given Houston’s extreme absences of late, the Rockets (4-7) might not have too much sympathy for them.
The Rockets and Bulls already played a pair of preseason games in early December at United Center, with each team winning once.
