The Chicago Bulls, sitting at 13-16, recently snagged a 122-112 victory in Detroit. Despite their rough 3-7 record over the last 10 games, they’ve been surprisingly solid on the road, boasting a 5-3 away record. Monday’s matchup against the Bucks marks their second visit to Milwaukee this season. Unfortunately, Lonzo Ball won’t be suiting up, as reported by KC Johnson, a Bulls insider. This will leave the team a bit short on guards. This time it’s not his knee; he’s out because of an illness.

And with Josh Giddey sidelined by an ankle issue, it’s clear they’re thin in the backcourt. It’s tough for fans, but hey, road wins have been their strong suit so far.

Ball’s season hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing—he’s only managed to play 12 of the Bulls’ 29 games so far. Injuries have kept him sidelined for most of the action, and when he’s on the court, his numbers haven’t been great. He’s putting up 5.2 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds on rough shooting splits—31% from the field and 28% from deep. Sure, his free throws are perfect at 100%, but that’s not enough to offset the struggles. Watching him, you’ll see glimpses of the player Bulls fans know, but let’s not sugarcoat it—he’s nowhere near his prime form.

The Bulls have their work cut out for them tonight against the Bucks, no question about it. But here’s a twist—Chicago might catch a lucky break for once. The Bucks’ injury report is packed with some key players, which could completely change the game’s dynamic. Their star duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard won’t be playing tonight.

But the Bulls don’t have a clear identity yet. Zach LaVine seems to be their saving grace this season.

The unexpected return of the Bull’s star Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine has turned things around for the Bulls, and it’s like last season’s drama never happened. A year ago, it seemed like trading the two-time All-Star was inevitable. With trade rumors swirling, LaVine’s future in Chicago was uncertain. But fast forward to this season, and LaVine is back to his old self, averaging 22 points per game and hitting a career-high 44.4% from beyond the arc.

Sure, he’s not quite at his career-high 27.4 points per game, but this is still a step forward for the Bulls. The team had a rough start last season, and LaVine’s injury only seemed to make things worse. When he went down, the Bulls found their rhythm, and the trade chatter only grew. But now, LaVine’s healthy and positive, and the Bulls have avoided burning bridges. They didn’t force a trade and embraced the fresh start.

The Bulls’ situation isn’t perfect—heading into another potential play-in tournament and with a 2025 first-round pick heading to San Antonio. But with DeMar DeRozan gone, LaVine and Nikola Vucevic have stepped up, especially with Vucevic shooting a career-best from three.

LaVine’s 36-point performance in a win over Boston was one of his best this season. Still, the Bulls need their stars to show up every night. We’ve seen LaVine deliver clutch moments, like his 49 points against Charlotte in 2019. Now, fans are hoping those performances come more often.