Update (2:07 a.m. ET, Wednesday): Jose Alvarado is no longer listed on the injury report for New York’s game at Chicago, according to the official NBA injury report. The Knicks guard had been considered day-to-day with a left ankle sprain.
The Knicks vs Bulls game Wednesday night brings together two teams searching for answers early in the 2026-27 season. New York, at 1-3, visits Chicago, also at 1-3, for an 8 p.m. ET tipoff at United Center. Chicago has lost two straight, while New York snapped its own three-game skid with a win over Detroit.
New York sits in fourth place in the Atlantic Division after beating Detroit 111-97 on Tuesday. Chicago has alternated wins and losses through four games but currently carries a two-game losing streak, including a 134-99 defeat at Boston on Oct. 26. The game marks the first meeting of the season series between the two franchises.
Knicks Vs Bulls Game Information
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 28
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
- TV/Streaming: NBA League Pass
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Knicks 101.7, Bulls 110.8
- Field goal percentage: Knicks 40.8%, Bulls 40.6%
- Three-point percentage: Knicks 32.4%, Bulls 23.8%
- Free throw percentage: Knicks 70.8%, Bulls 80.4%
- Assists per game: Knicks 24.7, Bulls 22.5
- Turnovers per game: Knicks 14.7, Bulls 19.3
- Offensive rebounds per game: Knicks 12.7, Bulls 14.3
- Defensive rebounds per game: Knicks 34.7, Bulls 32.0
- Steals per game: Knicks 6.7, Bulls 9.5
Knicks Outlook
New York snapped a three-game losing streak with a 111-97 win over Detroit on Tuesday, improving to 1-3 and sitting two games back in the Atlantic Division. The Knicks are averaging 101.7 points per game, the lower scoring output in this matchup, while shooting 32.4% from three-point range through four games.
Jalen Brunson leads the team at 22.7 points and 3.7 assists per game, and Karl-Anthony Towns has been the Knicks’ most complete player, averaging 21.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.0 blocks. Towns’ rebounding total ranks among the highest in these team stats, giving New York an interior presence even as its offense has struggled to find consistent rhythm.
Guard Jose Alvarado is no longer listed on the injury report after being considered day-to-day with a left ankle sprain, according to the official NBA injury report. The Knicks turn the ball over just 14.7 times per game, the fewest between the two teams, which has kept them competitive even during their early-season losses to Boston and Orlando.
Bulls Outlook
Chicago has been inconsistent, alternating results with wins over Minnesota and Milwaukee sandwiched around lopsided losses to Toronto and Boston. The Bulls are coming off back-to-back losses to Washington and Boston, having been outscored 134-99 in their most recent outing.
Caleb Wilson paces Chicago’s scoring at 21.0 points per game and also contributes 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, the kind of two-way production the Bulls will need against a bigger Knicks frontcourt. Josh Giddey leads the team in assists at 7.2 per game, and Jalen Smith paces the Bulls on the boards at 7.5 rebounds per game.
Chicago’s injury report lists center Nic Claxton as out with a hamstring injury, with a return date of Nov. 4. Forwards Patrick Williams, dealing with right groin soreness, and Tobe Awaka, with an ankle issue, are both listed as day-to-day for Wednesday’s game. The Bulls have turned the ball over 19.3 times per game, the highest mark in this matchup, a factor that contributed to their blowout loss in Toronto.
Key Matchup
Chicago’s three-point shooting, at just 23.8% for the season, stands as the weakest scoring element either team brings into Wednesday’s game. New York’s 34.7 defensive rebounds per game give the Knicks an edge in limiting second-chance opportunities against a Bulls team that still ranks ahead of New York in offensive rebounding at 14.3 per game.
With Claxton out for Chicago, the Bulls’ frontcourt rotation will be tested against Towns, who has been the most productive big man on either roster through the early season. With Alvarado now available, New York’s backcourt depth gets a boost against a Chicago team that has struggled to protect the ball at 19.3 turnovers per game.
What To Watch
Both teams are looking for their first signs of stability in the young season. New York sits two games back in the Atlantic Division at 1-3, while Chicago is two games behind division-leading Detroit in the Central Standings, also at 1-3. New York is riding a one-game winning streak after the Detroit win, while Chicago is looking to snap its own two-game skid and avoid a third straight defeat.
New York continues to navigate roster questions early in the season, a topic covered in a recent report on the Knicks weighing a trade to bolster their depth. Despite the slow start, NBA general managers still picked New York among the favorites in a recent survey, detailed in a piece on GMs picking the Knicks to win the 2027 title. New York’s most recent loss before Tuesday’s win came against Orlando, recapped in a story on the Magic beating the Knicks. Broader roster trends across the league were also examined in a look at contenders’ early roster signals.
More NBA news from Total Apex Sports.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
