Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards on Monday, February 8 is about as close to a coin flip as the ratings get, with the Wizards at only 53%. Small things like rest, health and shooting variance should decide it.
Why it is so close
The Win Meter reads the Wizards 53%, with a projected score of Chicago Bulls 115, Washington Wizards 116. The rating gap is 76 points in favor of the Bulls, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Wizards on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 47 times in 100 games like this, the Bulls would win.
Recent form
The Bulls are 1-2 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -17. The Wizards are 2-1 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -6.
The Bulls were beaten 135-92 on the road by TOR not long ago.
The Wizards were beaten 140-117 at home by MIA not long ago.
Offense against defense
The Bulls score 114.7 a game and allow 128. The Wizards score 118 and allow 116. Pairing each offense with the other defense points to about 115.4 for the Bulls and 123 for the Wizards, a simple check on the Win Meter's projection.
The Bulls have defended better than the Wizards have scored, so the Wizards may need to find offense elsewhere.
Injuries to watch
Out: Nicolas Claxton (CHI), expected back Nov 4, 2026, Tristan Vukcevic (WAS), expected back Nov 2, 2026, Jamir Watkins (WAS), expected back Apr 2, 2027, and AJ Dybantsa (WAS), expected back Oct 26, 2026.
Day to day or questionable: Noa Essengue (CHI) and Patrick Williams (CHI). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Bulls lead 6-2, with the Bulls outscoring the Wizards by an average of 12.9 points per game. The last meeting was WAS 124, CHI 120.