The Chicago Bulls have a tall task on their hands tonight as they host the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers. Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, the Clippers have surged up the Western Conference standings.
Not long ago, the entire league was holding its breath when they sat near the bottom of the West, especially with the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder owning their draft pick. Fast forward to now, and Los Angeles finds itself firmly in the play-in picture, with a real chance of squaring off against the Thunder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
It’s a glow-up few saw coming, and that runaway train makes its first stop in Chicago this season. Fortunately for the Bulls, the Clippers will arrive without their conductor. Kawhi Leonard was sent back to Los Angeles due to injury, leaving L.A. without its star (again). Adding to the Bulls’ hopes, this matchup marks the second night of a back-to-back for the Clippers, who edged out the Washington Wizards yesterday in a game that came down to the wire.
Game Info
The Chicago Bulls (20-22) host the Los Angeles Clippers (19-23) – 7:00 p.m. CT on CHSN (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio).
Chicago Bulls
Coby White Isaac Okoro Matas Buzelis Jalen Smith Nikola VucevicLos Angeles Clippers
Kris Dunn James Harden Kobe Sanders John Collins Ivica ZubacGame Lines
The Bulls are 3.5-point favorites to win at home, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Sharpshooting Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu Help Bulls Pulverize Shorthanded Nets, 124-102 — January 18, 2026What To Watch For
There aren’t many takeaways Chicago should draw from Sunday’s win over the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets. However, their performance from beyond the arc, both in efficiency and volume, is something the Bulls need to replicate on a nightly basis. They attempted 46 three-pointers and knocked down 20 of them, a mark they hadn’t reached since December 21. It’s a rare benchmark for this team, but when the shots are falling, they shouldn’t hesitate to let it fly. The numbers back it up: the Bulls are 3–1 this season when they make more than 20 threes in a game, and 10–6 when they connect on 15 or more from deep.?️?️?️?️?️?️?️Coby White with a season-high 7 threes in tonight's win over Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/J46DqhRrqW
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 19, 2026 Against the Nets, Billy Donovan finally went back to the double-big lineup featuring Jalen Smith and Nikola Vučević. In Jalen’s short stint as a starter for Chicago this season, he’s been averaging a truly dominant double-double. That work on the glass has been crucial, helping the Bulls avoid giving up a flood of second-chance points. While his presence in the paint may not be intimidating at first glance, Smith does enough to deter drives and block shots to at least make opponents think twice. I’ve loved how he fills the gaps in the starting lineup, and how his presence allows other players to slide into roles where they thrive, like Tre Jones anchoring the bench unit and Matas Buzelis shifting to small forward. With how well the lineup has flowed, you’d hope Smith stays in the starting five even when Josh Giddey eventually returns.Stix going coast to coast!@thejalen_smith | @CHSN__ pic.twitter.com/3Uk8XrrLQM
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 19, 2026 Josh Giddey is listed as questionable tonight and has seen status updates over the last three games. He was also briefly sent to and recalled from the Windy City Bulls, all signs pointing to a return sooner rather than later. If he does suit up tonight, he’ll be stepping into a Chicago lineup that’s starting to click. With Giddey back in the fold, one of Coby, Jalen, or Okoro would likely shift to the bench, giving the Bulls even more starter-level production in a second unit where Ayo and Tre have already been thriving. Somehow, Chicago sits just 4.5 games back of the three seed. If they can get healthy and catch a winning streak at the right time, with Giddey back in the mix, they might find themselves in a true playoff spot rather than battling through the play-in.Donovan said Giddey’s practice went well. It’s Giddey’s first 5-on-5 since suffering his hamstring strain on 12/29. Window of availability opens this week. t.co/Glsnh5TPxl
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 18, 2026 Without Leonard, the Clippers are just 4–8, with one of those wins coming last night in a clutch finish against one of the NBA’s worst teams. They are a very different team without him, though they’re still riding the momentum of their dominant winning run. His absence leaves nearly 30 points per game off the floor and removes one elite defender from the equation. Chicago has to capitalize from the opening tip because if they leave the door open, even slightly, James Harden is more than capable of making them pay.Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is being sent home from the team's road trip for treatment after suffering from left knee irritation, per @ChrisBHaynes.He'll be evaluated on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/6fP2YCQMYL
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 18, 2026Injury Report
Chicago Bulls
Patrick Williams QUESTIONABLE (ankle) Josh Giddey QUESTIONABLE (left hamstring) Noa Essengue OUT (shoulder) Zach Collins OUT (right first toe)Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard OUT (left knee) Bogdan Bogdanovic OUT (hamstring) Derrick Jones Jr. OUT (MCL) Bradley Beal OUT (left hip) © Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesHence then, the article about pre gamin bulls vs clippers 7 00 pm ct projected lineups how to watch more was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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