Chicago @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2017 ) Atlanta 86, Chicago 91

The Atlanta Hawks woke up Friday morning in a rare place – outside of the bottom spot in the NBA standings – and look to continue their improved play of late Saturday at home against the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks have won just 13 games all season but four of those triumphs have come in their past 10 games, including a pair of last-minute thrillers this week in Monday’s 102-99 victory over San Antonio and in Wednesday’s 94-93 win over New Orleans.

“You’ve got to rise up and make the shot,” Atlanta guard Kent Bazemore told reporters after he knocked down the game-winning basket with 2.1 seconds to play against the Pelicans, helping the Hawks open a six-game homestand at 2-1. The Bulls are 14-8 since starting the season with losses in 20 of their first 23 games, but could not overcome a 12-point third quarter in Wednesday’s 119-112 home loss to Golden State. “We played three quarters of really good basketball, but you take one quarter off against a team like this, you’re not going to win,” Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told the media afterward. Chicago pulled down a season-high 62 rebounds in its only meeting with Atlanta this season, a 91-86 home victory Oct. 26.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

ABOUT THE BULLS (17-28): Chicago guard Zach LaVine scored five points Wednesday in his third game of the season following left knee surgery, and Hoiberg indicated LaVine may get more playing time moving forward. Rookie Lauri Markkanen is the fastest rookie in NBA history to make 100 3-pointers and has 103 through his first 42 games, and 12 games in a row with two or more baskets from long range. Forward Nikola Mirotic leads the Bulls in scoring at 17.7 points, scoring 24 points Wednesday.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (13-31): Point guard Dennis Schroder recorded 15 assists with no turnovers Wednesday as the Hawks rallied from 19 points down, and leads Atlanta in scoring (20.1 points per game) and assists (6.8 per contest). Bazemore led Atlanta with 20 points against New Orleans and rookie John Collins added 18 points. In their past five victories, the Hawks have not allowed more than 99 points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Chicago G Kris Dunn, who is third in the NBA in steals (2.05 per game), is in concussion protocol and out indefinitely after slamming to the floor late in Wednesday’s loss.

2. Atlanta has won five consecutive home games against the Bulls dating to 2014.

3. The Hawks are fourth in the NBA in assists at 23.8 per game, while the Bulls are fifth at 23.7 per contest.

PREDICTION: Hawks 102, Bulls 100