Start Time: 7:00 PM CST

Where: United Center Watch: WGN

Injury report:

Bulls: Dwyane Wade (thigh, will play)

Rockets: Ryan Anderson (back, questionable)

Starting lineups:

Bulls: PG Jerian Grant, SG Dwyane Wade, SF Jimmy Butler, PF Bobby Portis, C RoLo

Rockets: PG Patrick Beverley, SG Eric Gordon, SF James Harden, PF Trevor Ariza, C Clint Capela

Preview:

Here we are, my friends. After the loss to the Magic on Wednesday, the Bulls are 31-33 and the Heat are 31-34. If our beloved Toros lose tonight their record will tie that of Dwyane Wade’s former team (they have the same divisional record at 6-7 and the Bulls have a better conference record at 20-18). And if the Bulls lose AND the Bucks beat the Pacers, Milwaukee will take over the No. 8 seed.

Butler and friends enter tonight's game with three straight terrible losses where Jimmy looked tired, the young guys looked overmatched and Freddy like he's coaching from outer space.

The Rockets are on their own skid, having dropped their last two games to the Spurs and the Jazz. At 44-21 and the 3rd seed in the West, they aren't panicking.

It's been interesting to follow this year's Rockets team because they represent a bizarro Bulls team (bizarro in the sense that Houston management is competent and effectively built the team the Bulls should have). Some will disagree with me on this, but Jimmy's game even resembles Harden's to a certain degree. The formula is simple. Find or develop a competent point guard who is a plus defender and shooter. Find a bunch of other guys who can shoot. Profit.

The Rockets won the last matchup on February 4th, 121-117, in overtime. That game was without Butler and feature a Michael Carter-Williams explosion. Butler will play in this one, as will Wade after missing the last two games.