Atlanta @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 27, 2018 ) Chicago 97, Atlanta 85

There have been signs of promise with the Atlanta Hawks of late, but after a lackluster performance in Monday’s home defeat to Orlando they now embark on a seven-game road trip starting Wednesday at Chicago. The Hawks had split their previous 16 games and led by three points after one quarter Monday before running out of gas, falling 122-103 to the Magic to end their homestand with back-to-back losses.

“In the first quarter, I thought we were good,” Atlanta rookie point guard Trae Young told reporters after scoring a team-best 21 points. “After that, we were just out of rhythm, up and down from there.” The Bulls are one of only four teams with fewer wins than the Hawks, but tasted victory for the first time since Dec. 28 on Monday with a 104-88 triumph at Cleveland to snap a 10-game losing streak. Chicago never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 31-18 lead as guard Zach LaVine scored 25 points. “It stinks to lose 10 in a row,” Chicago guard Kris Dunn told the media afterward. “A game like this can galvanize us.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), WGN (Chicago)

ABOUT THE HAWKS (14-32): Young has raised his scoring average to 16.1 per game to go with 7.2 assists, and is fourth on the franchise list for 3-pointers made by a rookie (69) and fifth in assists (331). Forward John Collins averages team highs in scoring (18.8) and rebounding (10.4), and ranks ninth in the NBA in field-goal percentage (57.9 percent). Atlanta forces 16.1 turnovers per game (fifth in the league) and is 10th in steals per game (8.48).

ABOUT THE BULLS (11-36): LaVine has recorded 20-plus points in 30 games this season and leads Chicago in scoring at 22.9 points per game. Forward Lauri Markkanen reached double-figures scoring in 14 of his past 15 contests, finishing with 13 points Monday. Chicago forced 10 or more turnovers in 13 of the past 14 games, and limited opponents to eight of fewer steals in 16 straight contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Chicago scored 100 or more points in nine consecutive games, the team’s longest streak in the past three seasons.

2. Atlanta rookie G Kevin Huerter, who has made 16 3-pointers in his past four games, did not play Monday due to a sore neck.

3. LaVine scored 27 points with 13 rebounds in Chicago’s first meeting with the Hawks this season, a 97-85 victory in Atlanta on Oct. 27.

PREDICTION: Hawks 105, Bulls 101