Jalen Smith will start at center for the Bulls with Nic Claxton out, Tiago Splitter said, with Tobe Awaka "just coming back." Splitter wants everyone but the shooter chasing misses 75% of the time, up from about 40%: "we don't have the best shooting team in the NBA."
With the Bulls' injuries, Noa Essengue "is probably going to play more than he has," per Chicago's postgame: "get him out there for 20 minutes a night." No word on Jalen Smith, who sat after playing Oct. 7 and is being monitored, or Tobe Awaka, seen limping in a knee sleeve.