Chicago Bulls vs Orlando Magic
PREVIEW: The Orlando Magic (44-36) visit the Chicago Bulls (31-49) on Friday, currently sitting in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Magic are riding a four-game winning streak in part because they're finally getting healthy , with Franz Wagner returning after missing time due to an ankle injury and Anthony Black providing a major boost off the bench since returning from an abdominal strain. Orlando enters with a strong defensive identity, ranking third in defensive rebounding and fourth in limiting three-point attempts allowed on defense, though they struggle significantly with three-point shooting efficiency at 25th in the league. With just two matchups remaining in their regular season, Orlando is determined to climb out of the play-in picture, though they'll likely need to win out and receive some help from other teams.
The Bulls have remained a high-octane team throughout a season of transition, with their pace ranking third in the NBA. Chicago boasts the league's second-fastest tempo and ranks third in attacking the rim frequently, though they struggle defensively by allowing plenty of rim attacks and rank dead last in forcing turnovers. Coming off back-to-back wins over Washington, the Bulls are looking to create momentum in their final home game of the season. The Magic are 1-2 against the Bulls this season and will need to be aggressive in passing lanes to generate points off turnovers, especially with their newly healthy roster contributing on both ends.