The LA Clippers and Chicago Bulls are playing live on the NBA schedule on Sunday afternoon and the game is live from the United Center and the matchup starts at 1 pm ET on ABC as Chris Paul takes on Pau Gasol and this comes after Derrick Rose was injured and could be out until the playoffs.
The Bulls come into the game against the Clippers right there with the Cavaliers in the central division standings and they are coming in after a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The team will next play against the Washington Wizards next on the schedule and they will be without Derrick Rose for over a month, but they are hopeful that he can return for the playoffs.
Jimmy Butler will have to step up with Rose out and he led the team in scoring with 28 points against the Wolves. Joakim Noah had eight assists and 12 rebounds and he will have to stay healthy for any chance of the Bulls making a run. The Bulls likely will try and do whatever they can to keep Butler this offseason as a restricted free agent with Rose getting his third serious knee surgery.
The Bulls come in averaging over 101 points per game and they are second overall in rebounds per game. The team has Butler leading with 20 points per game and he could be in the running for most improved player of the year. The Clippers come in are second in the Pacific division and they last won over the Grizzlies on the road and that was a big victory for the team against a top west opponent.
The Clippers are 38-21 on the season and they will play on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves and they previously had a game with the Rockets before the win against Memphis. Paul and DeAndre Jordan have played well with Blake Griffin out and that means Rose and Griffin will both be missing from this game.
The western conference standings has the Golden State Warriors in the lead overall and they are on top of the Grizzlies and the Rockets. Portland is fourth in the standings ahead of the Clippers, who are tied with the Dallas Mavericks in the conference. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are the final teams in the playoff picture, with the Pelicans hanging on just outside the postseason standings.
Check here for the LA Clippers and Chicago Bulls live coverage.
