It feels as though the Chicago Bulls will never escape the cycle of mediocrity that has largely affected the franchise since Michael Jordan’s retirement all the way back in 1998. After the latest handful of meandering seasons, Chicago made the decision last February at the trade deadline to trade or move on from a handful of their better players and go all-in on yet another rebuilding expedition. Between the struggles that are expected to come with any rebuilding roster and a brutal schedule to kick
off this year that has seen them play the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers two times each already, first year head coach and former championship player with the Spurs Tiago Splitter’s group has limped out to a putrid 1-8 start, with very little relief in sight.
They’re welcoming in a San Antonio Spurs team tonight that’s been firing on all cylinders and is looking for their 10th straight win. While some of the competition has been nothing worth bragging about, San Antonio has been taking care of their business and more or less smashing the opposition. With Victor Wembanyama looking like the apex predator on both ends of the floor that he was destined to become and a supporting group that’s growing along with him, the Spurs are right where they want to be.
San Antonio Spurs (9-2) at Chicago Bulls (1-8)
November 11 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: DAZN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Line: Spurs -14.5
Spurs Injuries: Tobias Harris, calf (OUT), Devin Vassell, groin (questionable)
Bulls Injuries: Norman Powell, shoulder (questionable), Tobe Awaka, back (questionable), Zach Collins, illness (questionable)
What to watch for
- It’s no secret that Victor Wembanyama has been on a tear since his 1/13 clinker to kick off the season. That performance feels like a lifetime ago, especially in light of two of his most recent games, performances that put him in the same category with two of the greatest big men to ever play the game including San Antonio’s own, the Admiral David Robinson. With Chicago boasting arguably the league’s worst interior defense, there should be no reason at all not to expect Wembanyama to impose his will on Chicago the way he’s done to everyone else this season. Pay attention to how comfortable Wembanyama has become as the roll man out of the pick and roll.
- The Bulls’ offense is going to have their hands full trying to score against this San Antonio defense. The Spurs have been among the elite in terms of defense this year, ranking 4th in defensive rating with a mark of 107.4 points per 100 possessions thanks to Wembanyama and the intensity and activity of wing players like Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell. The Bulls do push the ball early and often, as is explemplified by their first place ranking in pace, but without any consistent play finishers it hasn’t really mattered. Barring a San Antonio no-show, the Silver and Black’s defense should be able to hold Chicago down once again.
- Games like this always bring to mind Gregg Popovich’s, “appropriate fear,” mantra. As rough as Chicago has looked this season, there’s always the fear of the dreaded trap game. A potential 10-game win streak and 6-0 road record to start the season coming to a halt by a league bottom-dweller feels like the sort of sick irony that die-hard sports fans lose sleep over, but this is still the NBA and anything could happen. Mitch Johnson’s group has looked and played pretty determined though during this current streak and have taken care of business against more than one bad team, so it’s easy to see them coming into the Windy City and holding up their end of the bargain.
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