Chicago will continue its three-game road trip when it travels to Brooklyn on Thursday night. The Bulls had won three straight games before opening their road trip with a 104-89 loss at Memphis on Tuesday. Brooklyn has dropped three of its last four games, falling to Phoenix in a 116-112 final on Tuesday.

Bulls coming off worst offensive outing of season

Chicago has not been able to find a consistent level this season, hovering around the .500 mark throughout the campaign. The Bulls had won four out of their last five games heading into this road trip, notching wins over Orlando, Charlotte, Portland and San Antonio, with the latter three wins coming during a four-game homestand that concluded on Monday. They opened their three-game road trip with a 104-89 loss at Memphis on Tuesday, failing to cover the spread as 9.5-point underdogs. Chicago had averaged 123.6 points per game in its previous three games, but it scored its fewest number of points this season in the loss to Memphis.

The Bulls shot a season-worst 36.8% from the floor, including a 5 of 19 mark during a 14-point fourth quarter. They were without star DeMar DeRozan due to a sore right hip, and he is questionable to play on Thursday night. DeRozan leads the team with 25.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Shooting guard Zach LaVine is the second-leading scorer with 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists, while center Nikola Vucevic is averaging a double-double with 18.0 points and 11.3 boards. Chicago ranks No. 17 in the NBA offensively, averaging 114.3 points per game, and it will be facing a Brooklyn defense that is No. 12 (112.6).

Nets inserting new pieces into lineup

Brooklyn got off to a slow start this season, going 9-11 in its first 20 games. The Nets responded by winning 16 of their next 17 games, getting 13 games above the .500 mark. They have lost 10 of their 17 contests since then, including three of their last four coming into this matchup. Brooklyn opened its five-game homestand with a 125-113 win against Washington, but it has suffered losses to the Clippers and Suns so far this week. The Nets covered the 8.5-point spread against Los Angeles and covered the 7-point spread against Phoenix. They have now covered in five of their last six games, including five straight home games.

Spencer Dinwiddie is expected to make his return for Brooklyn on Thursday after being acquired in the Kyrie Irving trade earlier this week. Dinwiddie averaged 17.1 points in 17 games with the Mavericks, scoring 25 points at Golden State on Saturday in his final game with the team. The 29-year-old will need to produce immediately, as the Nets are playing without star Kevin Durant (knee). They have gone 5-9 without him, and he is not expected to return until after the All-Star break. Second-year guard Cam Thomas poured in a career-high 47 points on Monday and then added 43 points against Phoenix. Brooklyn ranks No. 16 in the NBA in scoring (114.4) and is facing a Chicago defense that is also No. 16 (113.8).