The Chicago Bulls will pay a visit to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday for an NBA Central Division clash at Little Caesars Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Are the Bulls better than they think?

Chicago wasn’t up to par in its season debut, falling by 20 points to Oklahoma City. The Thunder shot just under 55 percent from the field and held the Bulls to 41.5 percent, including 28.6 percent from three-point range. The loss was so brutal that it prompted a tense players-only meeting after the game. Are the Bulls too soft to compete in the rough-and-tough East?

Chicago is still missing point guard Lonzo Ball, who hasn’t played in a game since Jan. 14, 2022. Following multiple knee surgeries, the 25-year-old is unlikely to play this season. The team added Jevon Carter in the offseason, hoping that the former Bucks guard will pair well with Alex Caruso. While both are talented, they don’t bring the same package Ball brought to the table when healthy. The Bulls are an intriguing team, though, as DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are a deadly combo when on their A-games.

Last season, Chicago averaged 113.1 points (22nd) and shot 49.0 percent (4th), including 36.1 percent from beyond the arc (16th). Its opponents scored 111.8 points per game (7th) and shot 46.8 percent (8th) with a 35.7 shooting percentage from deep (13th).

Injury Report: PG Lonzo Ball is out.

Is Detroit better than expected?

Detroit nearly pulled off a 19-point comeback victory in its season opener at Miami but fell one point short. It outshot Miami from the field and won the rebounding battle 56-48, adding 13 blocks. The Heat didn’t get rattled, though, taking advantage of the Pistons’ 17 turnovers and outscoring them in the pain. The home team also knocked down 21 of 26 free throws.

The Pistons may not be serious contenders in the Eastern Conference, but they’re on the rise. Former number-one overall draft pick Cade Cunningham is back after missing most of last season with a stress fracture in his leg, giving Detroit an alpha to feed off of. PG Jaden Ivey is also back after a solid rookie season, as are big men Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. Can this squad exceed expectations in 2023-24?

Last season, Detroit scored 110.3 points per game (29th) with a 45.4 shooting percentage (30th), including 35.1 percent from three-point range (22nd). Its opponents averaged 118.5 points per game (27th) and shot 48.9 percent from the floor (26th) with a 36.0 shooting percentage from deep (16th).

Injury Report: PF Isaiah Livers, SF Bojan Bogdanovic, and PG Monte Morris are out.