The Brooklyn Nets visit the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, January 18, with both teams navigating notable injury situations as they meet at the United Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET in Chicago.
Brooklyn enters the game with a 12-27 record, placing them 13th in the Eastern Conference, while Chicago sits ninth at 19-22. The Nets arrive on a one-game winning streak, whereas the Bulls are coming off a narrow home loss to the same opponent.
This will be the third meeting between the teams in 2025-26. Brooklyn has won both previous matchups, including a 112-109 victory on January 16 and a 113-103 win in Chicago on December 3.
The Nets’ injury report is headlined by the absence of Michael Porter Jr., who is out for rest after logging heavy minutes as Brooklyn’s leading scorer at 25.8 points per game.
Brooklyn is also without Haywood Highsmith, who continues to recover from right knee surgery, and Ziaire Williams, who remains sidelined due to return-to-competition reconditioning. Drake Powell is out with a left knee injury.
Several Nets players are unavailable due to G League assignments, including Tyson Etienne, Chaney Johnson, E.J. Liddell, and Ben Saraf.
Nic Claxton and Noah Clowney are expected to anchor the frontcourt, with Claxton averaging 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks.
Chicago’s injury report carries significant backcourt implications. Josh Giddey is listed as doubtful with a left hamstring strain after averaging 19.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 9.0 assists this season. His potential absence would place added playmaking responsibility on Coby White and Tre Jones.
The Bulls are already without Zach Collins, who is out with a right toe sprain, and forward Noa Essengue, who remains sidelined following left shoulder surgery. Both absences thin Chicago’s frontcourt rotation behind Nikola Vucevic.
Patrick Williams is questionable due to a right ankle sprain.
