Knicks Vs Bulls: Full Preview, Lineups, Injuries and Odds for United Center Showdown
The Knicks Vs Bulls meeting in Chicago brings a clear-cut contrast: a thriving New York side (36*-21) visiting a struggling Chicago team (24–33). The matchup, scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 8: 00 PM ET at the United Center in Chicago, IL, matters because it offers the Knicks a chance to solidify third place while the Bulls try to arrest a lengthy freefall.
Knicks Vs Bulls: Game Details and Broadcast
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
Time: 8: 00 PM ET
Place: United Center, Chicago, IL
TV: local regional telecast (explicit broadcaster unclear in the provided context)
Records, Series and Recent Meetings
The season series is tied at one apiece. When these teams last met, New York won 128-116 on November 2, 2025; Jalen Brunson led New York with 31 points while Josh Giddey paced Chicago with 23. The Knicks enter with a 36*-21 mark (the asterisk noted in the preview text), the Bulls at 24–33. Chicago has lost eight consecutive games, a slump noted bluntly in the pregame writeup.
Knicks form: momentum, fourth-quarter spark, and what to watch
New York arrives fresh off a fourth-quarter heist at the Garden; that late surge followed an uneven middle stretch in which the Knicks looked flat for two quarters until guard Jose Alvarado injected life. The preview framed the win as momentum New York hopes to carry into the All-Star break, while also noting the team was looking to wash the taste of a loss to Indiana out of its mouths.
Bulls struggles, lineup notes and injuries
Chicago’s season is described as a campaign the team hopes to forget, with an offseason bender already suggested in the copy. Offensively the Bulls rank 23rd with a rating of 114 and defensively 26th with a rating of 118. 1. They average 116. 4 points per game, which placed them 11th in scoring. The Bulls’ extended skid includes a home loss last night by 16 points to Detroit, a game that featured a 34-point fourth quarter from the opponent.
The likely Bulls starting five was listed as Josh Giddey, Anfernee Simons, Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis and Jalen Smith. Individual season numbers in the preview: Josh Giddey averaging 18. 4 points and 8. 5 assists, Matas Buzelis averaging 15 points and shooting 36% from three, Anfernee Simons at 20. 1 points per game, Isaac Okoro at 9. 1 points per game, and Jalen Smith at 10. 2 rebounds per game. Last night, with Simons out, Guerschon Yabusele started. Injury status: Simons is day-to-day with a wrist injury; Zach Collins is out for the season with a toe problem; Noa Essengue is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Matchups, key players and tactical notes
Matchup history and current form point to a game where New York’s momentum and depth could be decisive. The preview specifically called out Jalen Brunson’s 31-point outing in the prior meeting and Josh Giddey’s 23 points for Chicago in that same game. The Bulls’ mix of scoring and playmaking is present, but their defensive rating and lengthy losing streak raise questions about their ability to stop a Knicks squad that can close games late.
Odds, picks and projection
A prominent predictive model cited in the preview gave the Knicks an 82% chance to win. The preview’s writer projected a New York victory by roughly a dozen points and suggested the Knicks’ bench could be expected to play significant minutes if starters can rest in what was characterized as a low-pride situation for Chicago. The preview also hinted at broader narrative stakes: a possible playoff preview, an MSG debut tangent, and the Knicks riding momentum into the All-Star break.
Unclear in the provided context: final active rosters at tip, specific minute distributions, and confirmation of the explicit broadcast partner. Those items may evolve around gametime.
