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Bulls vs. 76ers Preview: Chicago Seeks Answers at 1-5 With Caleb Wilson Rising

Writer: Remix Sports Media
Remix Sports Media
6 days ago
4 min read

The Chicago Bulls get a quick chance to answer a rough week. In this Bulls vs. 76ers preview, the picture is simple: Chicago (1-5, 13th in the East) visits Philadelphia (6-1, first in the East) on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT), carrying a four-game losing streak, according to the Associated Press game preview.

Note: this preview is based on published reports, box scores and team information. Remix Sports Media did not attend any of the games or practices referenced, and we have linked each source so you can read the original reporting.

Bulls vs. 76ers Preview: Where Chicago Stands at 1-5

The Bulls opened Tiago Splitter's first season with one win and five losses. Here is the run so far, based on the final scores from the sources linked:

Analysis: adding those six scores, Chicago has scored 681 points and allowed 776. That works out to 113.5 points scored and 129.3 allowed per game, a margin of minus-15.8. The gap lives on the defensive end.

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Defense and Early Deficits Have Defined the Skid

The pattern is hard to miss. In the first Celtics game, Chicago trailed 44-25 after one quarter and 78-49 at halftime, per Stadium Rant. Boston outscored the Bulls 58-40 in the paint, according to On Tap Sports Net. Bleacher Nation called slow starts a theme of the season, and Toronto's 43-23 first quarter in the opener fits the same story.

The Knicks game showed a different kind of problem. Chicago led by as many as 19, then watched New York score 43 fourth-quarter points to win 133-127. Stadium Rant, citing the team's recap, noted the Bulls allowed 23 second-chance points. Finishing a defensive possession with a rebound has been the missing piece.

The offense has not been a safety net either. Yahoo Sports' Bulls team page lists Chicago at 41.4% from the field and 28.1% from three, ranked 29th and 30th in the league as of Sunday. When shots are not falling and the defense is leaking, the margin for error disappears.

Caleb Wilson Is the Reason to Keep Watching

The best news for Bulls fans is the rookie. Caleb Wilson is averaging 21.2 points and 6.7 rebounds through six games, per Yahoo's team page. He scored 30 points with 14 rebounds against Washington, then made a career-high six three-pointers in the 23-point effort at Boston. K.C. Johnson of CHSN noted he was the first Bulls rookie with six threes in a game since Coby White, as relayed by On Tap Sports Net.

Wilson also spoke candidly after practice in Philadelphia. HoopsHype relayed a quote from reporter Joel Lorenzi: "I know that this is gonna be the most I lose in my life. I'm in the NBA now, and we're not the team that we want to be in the future... losing games doesn't make you a loser, but your approach to losing games and your approach to basketball, how you play, is what makes you a loser." The full item is on HoopsHype via Yahoo.

Analysis: that is the right tone for a rebuild. The wins may be scarce this season, but a rookie who is scoring, passing and talking about accountability gives the losses a purpose.

Rotation Questions for Tiago Splitter

Splitter has shown he is willing to play whoever is winning the floor. In the win at Milwaukee, the bench erased a 15-point hole, with Tre Jones finishing plus-24 and Noa Essengue turning the fourth quarter with three steals, per On Tap Sports Net. At Boston on Friday, Johnson reported that Splitter used 13 players in the first half.

Josh Giddey remains the biggest swing. Bleacher Nation noted he had two points, one assist and four turnovers at halftime against Boston, then scored 13 second-half points without a turnover. Patrick Williams, meanwhile, was out of the rotation. Johnson relayed that Williams said, "I'm not a bench player. But being a professional is responding when things aren't going well."

The frontcourt picture is still thin. The AP lists Nic Claxton out with a hamstring injury and Dailyn Swain day-to-day with a back issue. Expect another look at Jalen Smith and Tobe Awaka on the glass, since both appeared at Boston, per Stadium Rant.

What the 76ers Bring to the Matchup

Philadelphia has been resilient. The Sixers beat Charlotte 109-104 on Saturday on the second night of a back-to-back, with Tyrese Maxey scoring 38 points. NBC Philadelphia reported that Maxey has scored at least 26 points in all seven games and that Anfernee Simons has averaged 20 points off the bench over the last three, shooting 16 of 27 from three.

The availability of stars is the open question. Joel Embiid (foot plantar fascia management) and LeBron James (low back sciatica management) both sat Saturday, per NBC Philadelphia. The AP preview still lists both as out, while ESPN's player note on James said he was expected to return Monday after resting on the second night of the back-to-back. We have not confirmed either player's status, so check the final injury reports before tip-off. For more on James' first game in Philadelphia, see our Ring Night recap.

Three Things to Watch Monday

  • The first quarter: Chicago has been behind early in games like Toronto and Boston. Matching Philadelphia's pace and keeping the opening 12 minutes within single digits would be a real step forward. (Analysis)

  • Defensive finishes: if the Bulls can limit second-chance points, as they could not against New York, they stay in the game even on a poor shooting night. (Analysis)

  • Wilson against a better defense: the rookie has handled every opponent so far. A strong game against the East's top team would be a meaningful marker. (Analysis)

One game will not repair a 1-5 start, and the season is young. But Monday offers a clear test of whether the Bulls' effort and defensive habits are improving. For more context on where this team started, read our 2026-27 NBA season preview.

Follow Remix Sports Media for continued Chicago Bulls and NBA coverage all season, including our recap of the Bulls and 76ers.

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