Chicago @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 20, 2018 ) Chicago 113, Atlanta 97

The Chicago Bulls visit the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday in a matchup of two teams who are trying to avoid finishing with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and both squads come in after disappointing road losses Friday. Chicago led Detroit by 10 points in the second quarter before scoring just 36 points after halftime of a 99-83 defeat, while Atlanta found itself down 19 points after one quarter of a 112-87 loss at Indiana.

At least the Hawks are at home, where they are a somewhat-respectable 15-19 compared to a NBA-worst 5-27 road mark, but Atlanta put forth one of its more lackluster efforts of the season Friday. “They started well and we didn’t,” Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer told the media after the Indiana loss, the Hawks’ ninth defeat in their past 12 games. “But I thought it was 48 minutes of that.” Chicago could not sustain its strong start against the Pistons, dropping its ninth consecutive road game. “I thought we came out really well, but we missed a lot of shots,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after Chicago shot 35.5 percent from the field.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

ABOUT THE BULLS (22-43): Guard Cameron Payne matched a career high with 17 points against Detroit, hitting a career-high tying four 3-pointers. Forward Lauri Markkanen, who has averaged 16.5 points and eight rebounds in two games against Atlanta this season, led Chicago with 22 points Wednesday against Memphis. Chicago made nine 3-pointers Friday and has hit 708 3-pointers this season, a franchise record.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (20-46): Atlanta guard Tyler Dorsey came off the bench to score all 18 of his points in the second half Friday, setting a career high, while fellow rookie guard Josh Magette recorded six assists in 15 minutes. Guard Dennis Schroder, who averages a team-high 19.2 points per game, was the only Atlanta starter to reach double figures Friday (15 points). The Hawks entered Saturday ninth in the league in steals per game (8.2) and tied for ninth in assists per contest (23.5).

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Chicago G Zach Lavine, averaging 16.7 points per game, scored just eight points Friday and is shooting 34.2 percent from the field in his past five games.

2. The Hawks are sixth in the NBA in free-throw shooting (79.4 percent) after hitting 9-of-10 attempts Friday.

3. Chicago’s last road win came in Atlanta, a 113-97 triumph on Jan. 20, gave the Bulls a 2-0 lead in the season series.

PREDICTION: Bulls 107, Hawks 101