Preview: Hawks play host to Bulls for Sunday matinee

It hasn’t been the best week for the Atlanta Hawks on the floor, with blowout losses on the road to the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers. However, the team returns to the comfort of home on Sunday afternoon and the Chicago Bulls await for a matinee at Philips Arena.

Atlanta’s injury report is chalked full of inclusions in this game, headlined by the listing of Dennis Schroder (left elbow sprain) as questionable. Schroder serves as the team’s primary offensive engine and, even with justified skepticism of his overall impact on winning, the Hawks are already without Malcolm Delaney (ankle) for this game at the point guard spot. Beyond that, Isaiah Taylor left Friday’s game with an ankle issue and, though he is listed as probable, that is far from a sure thing in terms of his status.

In the event that both Schroder and Taylor were unable to go, the Hawks would likely turn to a combination of Josh Magette, Tyler Dorsey and Kent Bazemore (in some form) for point guard minutes, and all three could have a turn even if Taylor or Schroder is able to play.

From a big-picture standpoint, this contest will also be one to monitor in the ping-pong ball race, with both the Hawks and Bulls occupying spots in the league’s bottom tier. Las Vegas installs Atlanta as the favorite in this spot, largely due to homecourt advantage, but Schroder’s status could affect that perception and, in the end, this projects to be a close-fought game.

Stay tuned throughout the afternoon for all the latest.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, March 11, 3:30 pm ET

Location: Philips Arena

TV: Fox Sports Southeast, Fox Sports Go, NBA League Pass

Radio: 92.9 The Game (Atlanta)