Orlando heads to the United Center on Friday with a cleaner injury report than Chicago, and that matters in a matchup between the Eastern Conference’s seventh-place team and a Bulls squad trying to finish a long season on a stronger note.
The Magic are 44-36 and sit seventh in the East, while the Bulls are 31-49 and 12th, with Chicago holding the season series 2-1.
For Orlando, Wendell Carter Jr. is available despite a nasal fracture and will wear a face mask. The only other absences are Jett Howard, out with a left ankle sprain, and Jonathan Isaac, out with a left knee sprain.
That gives the Magic a clear frontcourt anchor at a time when they are coming off back-to-back wins, including a 132-120 victory over Minnesota on April 8 and a 138-127 win over Dallas on April 3. Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Franz Wagner give Orlando enough scoring to pressure a Bulls group that is short on ball-handling and wing depth.
Chicago’s report is much heavier. Matas Buzelis is questionable with an illness, while Zach Collins, Noa Essengue, Josh Giddey, Nick Richards, Anfernee Simons, Jalen Smith and Guerschon Yabusele are all out, and Isaac Okoro is doubtful.
The Bulls do have a few names trending in the right direction. Collin Sexton is probable with a right finger mallet injury, Patrick Williams is probable with a left thumb sprain, and Lachlan Olbrich is probable despite bilateral plantar fasciitis.
The teams have already played three times this season, and the split has been competitive enough to keep this one relevant even without playoff stakes for Chicago. Orlando won the December 1 meeting 125-120, while the Bulls took the opener and the rematch, including a 121-114 win on January 2 at home.
