The Chicago Bulls know they will be playing beyond the regular season, but making sure all the pieces are clicking is an essential task over their final five games.
They starts Sunday afternoon when they visit the struggling Charlotte Hornets.
The Bulls (35-42) have clinched a spot in the play-in round for the postseason, but they’d like to improve their stock. They have won two straight following a 118-113 home victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
Bulls guard Coby White is coming off a 31-point outing. He has been the Bulls’ leading scorer in 10 of the past 12 games, sharing the scoring honors with Nikola Vucevic on Friday.
White will be back playing in his home state Sunday. He led the team in scoring with 23 points in a 115-108 overtime win in Charlotte on Dec. 30, then scored 18 in a two-point home loss on Jan. 17. He also scored 18 in a home win on Dec. 13.
The Bulls have found an ideal complement to White in guard Josh Giddey, who averaged 20.3 points per game in March. Giddey is coming off his sixth triple-double of the season, achieved Friday night when he recorded 15 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists.
“He has figured it out for us, with the way we’re playing, where are good shots for him in-and-around the paint area,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “I think his shooting percentage has gone up because he’s taking shots that he’s going to shoot a high percentage on. He’s a guy who really is just a phenomenal passer. He really has figured out how to play with Coby and play with some of these guys.”
White has made a single-season franchise-record 209 baskets from 3-point range both last season and this season.
The Hornets (19-58) have lost seven of their past eight games.
About the only thing the Hornets are playing for in terms of the standings is avoiding the worst record in the NBA. They have two more victories than the Washington Wizards and three more than the Utah Jazz.
Yet the players are being evaluated and coach Charles Lee said it’s an important time to make sure there are steps taken in the right direction before the end of the season.
“We’re focused on what is the competitiveness like? That’s not a statistical measure,” Lee said.
Miles Bridges has been Charlotte’s leading scorer for four consecutive games. He is shooting a career-low 31.6 percent from 3-point range this season, however.
The Hornets could take an extended look at guard Jaylen Sims, who made his NBA debut with seven points in 21 minutes off the bench Friday night in a 125-102 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
He was signed to a 10-day contract after a strong season with the organization’s G League team in Greensboro, N.C.
“Very impressed with what Jaylen gave us,” Lee said. “Not really surprised, because it’s how he played in the G League. … Just an all-around great player, great teammate and person to add to our group as we head into the tail-end of our season — somebody to come in, compete and bring the right amount of juice.”
Charlotte doesn’t have the firepower or experience to stick with most teams, particularly with top players LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller sidelined for the rest of the season with injuries. Center Mark Williams has been in and out of the lineup, missing the game Friday night with muscle spasms.
Chicago owns a 19-19 road record, while the Hornets are 12-27 at home.
