Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls match preview

NBA BASKETBALL: 12BET odds Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls 3/22 7AM GMT+8



With Derrick Rose out, the Chicago Bulls have kept on winning by stepping up their defensive effort.The Bulls may be without Rose again as they seek a sixth straight road victory Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors.Rose has missed the last four games due to a groin injury and has been sidelined for 14 contests overall this season. Chicago has held up just fine, going 10-4 without him in 2011-12, and winning three of the last four including Monday's 85-59 rout at Orlando.The Bulls (38-10), who have also defeated division leaders Philadelphia and Miami during the current stretch, gave up the fewest points in a regular season game in franchise history against the Magic. They turned 19 Orlando turnovers into 25 points and held the Magic to 35.3 percent shooting.



The Raptors know all about the Bulls' defense and depth. Chicago defeated Toronto 77-64 at the United Center on Jan. 14, when Lucas had 10 points and fellow reserve Taj Gibson added 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.This is the first of two meetings between the teams this week, as Toronto will visit Chicago again Saturday. The Bulls have no games between now and then, meaning the option of resting Rose the rest of the week may be attractive.The Raptors (15-31) are trying to avoid a third straight loss overall as they return home from a 2-3 road trip that concluded Tuesday with a 106-87 loss at New York.Jose Calderon returned from a five-game absence due to a sprained ankle and had 11 points and nine assists, but backup Jerryd Bayless was lost to a left hip pointer in the second half.Bayless, who averaged 21.8 points on 54.3 percent shooting while starting in place of Calderon the previous five games, had seven points, four assists and two steals in 13 minutes before leaving Tuesday. His status for Wednesday is uncertain.