Chicago Bulls (24-38, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (29-34, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Orlando, Florida; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Orlando hosts the Chicago Bulls after Paolo Banchero scored 41 points in the Orlando Magic's 114-113 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
The Magic are 23-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando has a 3-6 record in one-possession games.
The Bulls are 19-23 in conference matchups. Chicago is third in the Eastern Conference with 28.9 assists per game led by Josh Giddey averaging 6.6.
The Magic are shooting 44.0% from the field this season, 3.2 percentage points lower than the 47.2% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls are shooting 46.3% from the field, 0.8% lower than the 47.1% the Magic's opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Franz Wagner is shooting 46.9% and averaging 25.0 points for the Magic. Banchero is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Nikola Vucevic is scoring 19.1 points per game and averaging 10.3 rebounds for the Bulls. Coby White is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 106.0 points, 43.4 rebounds, 21.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.3 points per game.
Bulls: 2-8, averaging 115.4 points, 43.2 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.9 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Jalen Suggs: out for season (quad), Moritz Wagner: out for season (knee), Cole Anthony: day to day (toe).
Bulls: Ayo Dosunmu: out for season (shoulder), Nikola Vucevic: day to day (calf), Patrick Williams: out (knee), Josh Giddey: day to day (quadricep), Kevin Huerter: day to day (knee), Lonzo Ball: day to day (wrist).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
