Deadspin | Bulls will have hands full with 76ers as they move past first loss

Coming off their first loss of the season, the Chicago Bulls are set to face a tough challenge Tuesday as they host the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bulls fell 128-116 at the hands of the New York Knicks on Sunday, ending their early winning streak. After holding opponents to just 30.1% shooting from beyond the arc in their first five games, Chicago struggled significantly from deep against New York, who shot a scorching 47.6% from three-point range. Bulls guard Josh Giddey acknowledged the difficulties, commenting on how easier it is to defend when opponents miss shots, but stressed the need for the team to find ways to win even when teams are hot from long range. Philadelphia, meanwhile, bounced back quickly from their earlier defeat. Following their first loss, the Sixers dominated Brooklyn 129-105, with Kelly Oubre Jr. setting the tone by scoring 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting in the opening quarter. Oubre Jr. emphasized the importance of resilience and maturity in handling adversity and extending leads when necessary. Though Joel Embiid sat out for knee injury management and Paul George is still recovering and yet to make his season debut, Philadelphia’s balanced attack, led by Oubre, Tyrese Maxey, and Quentin Grimes, proved too much for the Nets. For the Bulls, the return home presents a chance to regroup. Nikola Vucevic has been a steady presence in the frontcourt, posting 17 points and 14 rebounds in the loss to New York. He’s recorded a double-double in four of the six games this season and has a strong recent history against Philadelphia, including five double-doubles and a triple-double in his last 10 matchups. However, the Bulls will be missing reserve guard Ayo Dosunmu, who is questionable after a quad contusion suffered in Friday’s win over the Knicks. The series history adds extra intrigue. Chicago boasts a perfect 4-0 record at home this season, while Philadelphia is undefeated on the road at 3-0. The Bulls are 6-4 in their last 10 games against the Sixers and are chasing their first three-game winning streak in this matchup since a dominant stretch between 2013 and 2017. However, the 76ers won both meetings at the United Center last season, so the Bulls will have to bring their A-game to defend home court. Coach Nick Nurse of Philadelphia noted that Paul George is progressing in his recovery with a “live-ish” 3-on-3 workout recently, but the team remains cautious about his return. As both teams look to build momentum early in the season, this game could set the tone for their ongoing rivalry. The Bulls must shore up their perimeter defense and find ways to overcome hot shooting nights from opponents if they want to avoid another setback against a resilient and well-coached Sixers squad.