March 8, 2026 | United Center | 7:00 PM CT | NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago Bulls (25–37) host the Sacramento Kings (39–23) tonight, and this is going to be tough. They’re 5th in the West, winners of 6 of their last 8, and playing fast, fun, high-scoring basketball. We’re 12th in the East, twelve games under .500, and giving up 120.4 points per game.
De’Aaron Fox is one of the fastest players in the league. Domantas Sabonis is a triple-double machine. Keegan Murray spaces the floor perfectly. They score 118.1 points per game with elite pace and ball movement.
We’re trying to keep up with DeMar DeRozan’s mid-range game and hoping Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton get hot from three. But the Kings’ pace and offensive firepower is a nightmare matchup for our terrible defense.
For Bulls fans, this is one of those games where you just hope we can keep it competitive and not get run out of our own building.
Where the Bulls Stand (Still Not Good)
Record: 25–37 (12th in East)
We’re twelve games under .500, and the play-in race is over. The defense is terrible (120.4 points allowed per game). The rebounding is a disaster (42.1 per game vs Sacramento’s 45.3). And against a team that plays as fast as the Kings, both problems get magnified.
Key Players:
- DeMar DeRozan: Still getting his mid-range buckets, needs another huge game
- Anfernee Simons: Inconsistent—desperately needs to show up tonight
- Collin Sexton: Provides energy, but not enough against this level of offense
Billy Donovan keeps preaching defense and fundamentals. Against Sacramento’s pace, we’ll need perfect execution just to stay within striking distance.
The Sacramento Kings: Fast, Fun, and Dangerous
Record: 39–23 (5th in West)
The Kings are legit playoff contenders. De’Aaron Fox is one of the fastest guards in the league—elite speed, elite finishing, elite playmaking. Domantas Sabonis is a point-center who does everything—rebounds, assists, scores. Keegan Murray spaces the floor and hits threes.
Key Players:
- De’Aaron Fox (PG): Lightning-fast guard, can get to the rim at will
- Domantas Sabonis (C): Triple-double threat, rebounds and facilitates everything
- Keegan Murray (F): Sharpshooter who stretches defenses
The Numbers:
- 118.1 points per game (elite offense)
- 113.5 points allowed per game (solid defense)
- 45.3 rebounds per game (dominate the glass)
- 27.9 assists per game (elite ball movement)
They’re fast, they’re balanced, they’re well-coached, and they execute. This is what good basketball looks like.
Breaking Down the Matchup
| Category | Bulls | Kings |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 114.8 | 118.1 |
| Points Allowed | 120.4 | 113.5 |
| Assists Per Game | 29.1 | 27.9 |
| 3-Pointers Made | 14.6 | 14.2 |
| Rebounding | 42.1 | 45.3 |
They score more. They defend better. They rebound better. We pass slightly better and shoot slightly more threes. That’s about it.
The defensive gap is brutal—113.5 points allowed vs our 120.4. Against a team that scores 118 per game, our defense is going to get absolutely shredded.
What the Bulls Need to Do (Good Luck)
DeMar DeRozan Has to Be Perfect
DeMar needs 35+ points on ridiculous efficiency just to keep us competitive. Sacramento’s pace will wear him down, so he needs to be ultra-efficient with every shot.
Hit Threes at an Elite Clip
We shoot 14.6 threes per game vs their 14.2. If Simons, Sexton, and our shooters can knock down 18+ threes at 45%+, we have a puncher’s chance. If we go cold, we’re getting blown out by 20.
Someone Has to Slow Down Fox and Sabonis
This is basically impossible. Fox is too fast. Sabonis is too versatile. But if they both go off and make it look easy, we’re cooked. At least make them work.
Win the Rebounding Battle (Not Happening)
Sabonis is going to dominate the glass. We can’t let them get easy offensive rebounds and second-chance points that fuel their fast break.
Don’t Get Embarrassed at Home
The Kings are going to win. We know that. But if they beat us by 25+ at the United Center, that’s unacceptable. Compete for four quarters.
What Sacramento Will Bring
De’Aaron Fox will blow by our defenders with elite speed and finish at the rim. Domantas Sabonis will grab 15+ rebounds, dish 8+ assists, and control the paint. Keegan Murray will hit open threes when we collapse on Fox and Sabonis.
The Kings’ pace and ball movement will overwhelm us. They’re playoff-caliber for a reason. If we’re sloppy or don’t execute, this could get ugly fast.
Bulls Fan Prediction: We Get Handled
Final Score: Kings 118, Bulls 106
DeMar DeRozan battles and drops 32 points, but it’s not enough. Anfernee Simons gets hot in the second quarter and scores 24. We hang around for a half behind three-point shooting.
But De’Aaron Fox takes over with 28 points and 9 assists, making our defense look silly. Domantas Sabonis posts 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists—another triple-double. The Kings’ pace and execution pull away in the second half.
Twelve-point loss feels about right. We compete for a half, then their firepower and pace overwhelm us.
Why This Game Matters (Even Though We’re Probably Losing)
We’re 12th in the East. The play-in is gone. The season’s essentially over.
So why does tonight matter?
Because the Kings represent what good basketball looks like. Elite pace. Ball movement. Two-way execution. Everything we’re not.
DeMar DeRozan deserves to compete against quality teams. Our fans deserve to see us fight. And maybe—just maybe—we can catch Sacramento on an off night.
Realistically? We’re getting beaten by a much better team. But it’s basketball. Anything can happen.
See Red. Let´s go Bulls!