Sixers vs. Chicago Bulls at a glance

76ers vs. Chicago Bulls at a glance

TEAMS: Sixers (17-28) vs. Bulls (23-25)

WHEN:  7 p.m. Sunday

WHERE:  United Center

BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM

SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE:  TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers

411 ON BULLS:  There's a lot of turmoil surrounding the Bulls.

There has been some fallout from the critical comments about teammates by Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade following Wednesday's setback to the Atlanta Hawks.  Rajon Rondo fired back with words to criticize the leadership and Wade and Butler the next day on his Instagram account. Then Wade and Butler struggled after being held out of Friday's starting lineup against the Miami Heat for their comments.

Butler had a season-low three points on 1-for-13 shooting.  Wade finished with 15 points. He made 6 of 17 shots and committed a team-worst four turnovers.

Both players will return to the starting lineup against the Sixers.

That might not be a good thing for the visitors.

Wade has averaged 24.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.93 steals and 1 block while shooting 48.7 percent in 42 career games against the Sixers. Butler has faced the Sixers 16 times, averaging 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.13 steals while shooting 49 percent.

PROBABLE STARTERS

SIXERS (17-28)

33 Robert Covington SG 6-9  10.8 ppg. 1.7 spg.

7 Ersan Ilyasova PF 6-10 15.1 ppg. 6.0 rpg.

4 Nerlens Noel C 6-11 8.0 ppg. 4.8 rpg.

11 Nik Stauskas SG 6-6  8.5 ppg. 2.0 apg.

1 T.J. McConnell PG 6-2 5.4 ppg. 5.9 apg.

Coach: Brett Brown (Fourth season, 64-227)

Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Jerryd Bayless, (left wrist ligament tear, out), Joel Embiid (rest).

BULLS (34-15)

21 Jimmy Butler G/F 6-7 24.4 ppg. 1.72 spg.

22 Taj Gibson PF 6-9 11.6 ppg. 7.1 rpg.

8 Robin Lopez C 7-0 9.1 ppg. 1.63 bpg.

3 Dwyane Wade SG 6-4 19.0 ppg. 1.60 spg.

2 Jerian Grant PG 6-4  5.2 ppg. 1.5 apg.

Coach: Fred Hoiberg (Second season, 65-65)

Injury report:  None

THE SERIES

The Sixers own a 116-102 series advantage and have won the past 11 meetings.

LAS VEGAS LINE

Chicago is a 6 ½-point favorite

LAST SERIES MEETING

The Sixers never really had a chance.

The Chicago Bulls came to town with an all-star tandem in Butler and Wade. They also had an assist machine in Rajon Rondo. And like in Sunday's matchup, the Sixers were without their best player in Joel Embiid.

That combination led to a 105-89 victory by the Bulls on Nov. 25 at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Sixers' 11th consecutive loss to the Bulls (10-6) also had a lot to do with sluggish starts to the game and the second half.

The Bulls opened up 8-0, 11-2, and 20-8 advantages in the first quarter. The Sixers battled back and pulled within one point (23-22) early in the second quarter. But lack of production from their starting unit hurt their efforts.

At one point, Jahlil Okafor, who started in place of Embiid, shot 4 for 7 from the field. The Sixers' other starters were a combined 0 for 10 until Ersan Ilyasova hit a three-pointer with 4 minutes, 19 seconds left in the half. The power forward's three-pointer pulled the Sixers within 12 points (45-33).

The Bulls put the game away with a 21-5 run to end the third quarter. Chicago led by as many as 28 points (101-73) with 8 minutes, 23 seconds remaining.

Wade and Butler led the Bulls with 26 points apiece. They could have scored more. Butler didn't play in the fourth quarter, while Wade exited the game with 7:13 remaining.

Rondo, who also sat out the fourth quarter, finished with six points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, two steals, and one turnover. Eight of his assists came in the first half.

Ilyasova led the Sixers with 14 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Stauskas and reserve center Richaun Holmes had 13 points apiece. Point guard Jerryd Bayless, who was making his first start, and reserve guard Hollis Thompson each had 11.

Okafor added 10 points on 5-for-11 shooting to go with six rebounds, one turnover and one block.

UPCOMING GAMES

Monday: 6 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Sacramento Kings vs. Sixers

Wednesday: 8:30 p.m., at American Airlines Center, Sixers vs. Dallas Mavericks

Thursday: 8:30 p.m., at AT&T Center, Sixers vs. San Antonio Spurs

Saturday: 7:30 p.m., at American Airlines Arena, Sixers vs. Miami Heat

Feb. 6: 7:30 p.m., at Palace at Auburn Hills, Sixers vs. Detroit Pistons

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.