There are teams that have hit home runs right off the bat, and then there are teams that struggle to connect the ball. At the same time, there are also hot-and-cold teams that struggle to find the rhythm. Well, that has been the league’s story so far, and it’s only been three weeks. In that line-up, the Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls fall in the third category and took the election break on a losing note. While they lock horns tonight, let’s take a look at their injury report and much more.

The Bulls came into the season with many deductions. Firstly, they lost their veteran talent, DeMar DeRozan, lockdown backcourt defender Alex Caruso, and Andre Drummond and Javonte Green. In return, the team added Josh Giddey, Jalen Smith, Chris Duarte, and Matas Buzelis. It’s safe to say that the Bulls have lost their off-season by a fair margin, and the team’s burden has fallen on Zach LaVine’s shoulders.

The star forward, who is currently in the third year of his 5-year max contract, never left the trade block since the moment he joined the Bulls fold. Amid this string of setbacks, the Bulls do have some positives. Rising star Coby White and veteran center Nikola Vučević have consistently performed alongside LaVine, averaging around 20 ppg each consistently. Not to mention Josh Giddey’s chip-ins, which helped the team to have a 3-4 record after 7 games.

However, heading into the 8th game, they have a lengthy injury report, putting them in a tough spot to even compete. The team has listed Zach LaVine, Josh Giddey, Patrick Williams, and Jalen Smith in the Questionable category, while the management ruled out Lonzo Ball with a broken wrist. On the other hand, the Mavs listed PJ Washington out and Dereck Lively II in the Questionable category.

Mavericks vs Bulls: Starting line and depth chart

Following their trip to the 2024 NBA Finals, the Mavericks have a lot of expectations set on them. To top it off, they have added Klay Thompson to their lineup to create more space for Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

However, the Mavericks’ start has been a bit shaky, as they have a 4-3 record in their 7 outings. However, they displayed glimpses of the magic in these games. Anyway, let’s look at the Mavericks’ adjusted depth chart.

Chicago Bulls depth chart

Looking at the paper, the Dallas Mavericks look more threatening. But in the game of basketball, it’s all about the momentum. A few good minutes into the game, the Bulls can turn the game around, especially with the likes of Coby White in play. Who do you think will win tonight? Let us know in the comments.