The Orlando Magic played the Chicago Bulls at United Center at 7:00 PM CT on Wednesday, closing out Chicago's final home game of the regular season with both teams dealing with injury questions and uneven form. Matas Buzelis planned to suit up for the Bulls after missing two straight games with an illness, while Guerschon Yabusele was downgraded and set to sit after leaving the previous night with a shoulder injury.
Chicago entered at 31-49, while Orlando came in at 44-36, and the matchup leaned toward the visitors because of talent and rest. The Bulls were on the backend of a back-to-back and did not have any of their top three big men available, leaving them thin in the frontcourt against a Magic team that had its own offensive and defensive problems at times this season. Orlando shot 34.4 percent from three-point range this season and made less than 12 three-pointers per game, but the edge in fresh legs was expected to matter more than the rough shooting numbers.
Buzelis had entered the day as questionable before saying he intended to play in the finale at home, a small boost for a Chicago team trying to finish a long season on a better note. Yabusele's absence, though, only sharpened the imbalance inside, and that made the night look like one where Orlando's talent advantage and fresher legs were likely to decide it.
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For Chicago, the game was less about the standings than about getting through the final stretch without another setback. For Orlando, it was another chance to bank a win against a weary opponent and use the schedule to its advantage.
