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It's doubtful that the Chicago Bulls have much of a desire to take the court on Monday following an emotional, draining loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday, but the silver lining is that they'll at least be facing the worst team in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Wizards, at 4-16, have looked dreadful for most of the season, but they have reeled off two wins in their past three games, although both were over the equally lowly Charlotte Bobcats.
The Bulls are expected to be shorthanded once again, with starting SF Luol Deng still nursing a wrist injury and starting SG Richard Hamilton likely to sit out, or at least play significantly reduced minutes, after Sunday's battle with the Heat. With the Bulls depleted on the offensive end, it should be a rather low-scoring game, considering that the Wizards are 27th in the NBA in scoring and will be facing one of the most vaunted defenses in the league.
With seven straight road games still to come after Monday night's tilt in Washington, the Bulls will almost certainly be looking at the game as a way to recharge the batteries of their most important players, a few of whom played over 40 minutes vs. the Heat. Players like John Lucas, Brian Scalabrine and Omer Asik— who played a combined nine minutes against Miami— should see considerably more time on the court if things go to plan.
Game date/time: Monday, January 30, 2012, 6 p.m. CT
Location: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
TV: NBA TV
Radio: ESPN 1000 AM
Odds: Bulls favored by 8.5
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