Mavericks at Bulls: Game 30 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (16-13) at Chicago Bulls (11-16)
Dec. 28, 7:00 at the United Center
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 2 1/2

2012-13 Matchups
Nov. 28 at Chicago
Bulls 101 Mavs 78
Mar. 30 at Dallas
Mavs 100 Bulls 98

All-Time Series
Mavs 32 Bulls 32

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 7th (108.4)
Defense: 22nd (107.3)

Bulls
Offense: 28th (99.8)
Defense: 4th (100.7)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert or DeJuan Blair
Bulls
PG: Kirk Hinrich
SG: Jimmy Butler
SF: Luol Deng or  Mike Dunleavy
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Joakim Noah

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.6
RPG: Marion, Blair, 7.1
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 24.0
Bulls
PPG: Deng, 19.6
RPG: Noah, 9.8
APG: Hinrich, 5.1
PER: Deng, 17.7

Notes
The Bulls have been decimated by injuries, most notably another Derricks Rose season-ending knee injury. Luol Deng is a gametime decision with a sore Achilles. Brandan Wright is expected to return for the Mavs, but now Wayne Ellington is out due to illness.  Before last year's Mavs win over the Bulls in Dallas, the Mavs had dropped four straight to Chicago, failing to score over 83 points in any of those games. The Mavericks are 7-3 vs. the East this year, compared to 9-10 vs. the West.  The Bulls have really struggles on offense this year, scoring the fewest points per game in the league (91.9).