Tip-Off: 7 PM CT

Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, OK)

Television: FSOK

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game

For the third consecutive game, Steven Adams will likely have to sit due to a right calf contusion, which means Dakari Johnson should be getting his third start in a row. Despite Adams’s absence, the Thunder has fared well, going 2-0 in the first two games of the current three-game homestand. Carmelo Anthony also had to sit out on Sunday with a sore back, but he should be good to return for tonight.

Realistically, Oklahoma City should not have very many problems with tonight’s matchup with the Chicago Bulls. The Thunder defeated the Bulls in Chicago 101-69 two-and-a-half weeks ago, and while Oklahoma City has struggled since then, the Bulls have been far worse off. This very well may be another good opportunity for some younger players to see extended minutes and starters to see rest in the fourth quarter.

Projected Starters

Thunder

• PG: Russell Westbrook
• SG: Andre Roberson
• SF: Paul George
• PF: Jerami Grant
• C: Dakari Johnson

Bulls

• PG: Jerian Grant
• SG: Kris Dunn
• SF: Paul Zipser
• PF: Lauri Markkanen
• C: Robin Lopez

Injuries

Thunder

• Steven Adams (right calf contusion) is out.
• Carmelo Anthony (sore back) is out.

Bulls

• Justin Holiday (personal) is out.
• Zach Lavine (torn left ACL) is out.
• Nikola Mirotic (maxillary fractures) is out.
• Cameron Payne (right foot) is out.
• David Nwaba (right ankle sprain) is out.

Head-to-Head

• Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder are 11-7 against the Bulls (5-4 at home, 4-4 away).
• In nine seasons, the Thunder have won the season series with the Bulls three times, lost it once, and tied five times.
• This is the second and final meeting between Oklahoma City and Chicago.
• The Thunder defeated the Bulls in Chicago earlier this season 101-69.
• Chicago has won the last two meetings against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

Game Notes

• Thunder forward Jerami Grant and Bulls guard Jerian Grant are brothers.
• The Bulls have the youngest team in the league with an average age of 24.5 years.
• Oklahoma City will get back to a .500 record with a win tonight.
• A win tonight would be three in a row for Oklahoma City, the Thunder’s longest streak of the season.
• The Thunder is 3-2 at home this season and 4-1 against the Eastern Conference.
• The Bulls are 1-5 on the road this season and 0-4 against the Western Conference.
• Chicago forward Bobby Portis, who was suspended for the first eight games of the season by the Bulls due to an incident with teammate Nikola Mirotic, has returned to play, and he has averaged 19 points per outing through his three games played so far.

Also, be sure to check out the latest segment of “Thunder Things with the Thunder Guys.”

Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.