The Chicago Bulls are back at the United Center one night after earning their first win of 2026-27, and the Washington Wizards come in with the same 1-1 start. It is an early test for two teams that opened the year the same way, with a win over Milwaukee and a loss to the Raptors.
That is why Wizards Vs Bulls has picked up attention now. The game is the first back-to-back set of the year for both teams, which makes the pace and the legs as important as the standings. Washington arrives with a new star-studded roster, while Chicago is trying to prove that one win does not erase the uneven start that came before it.
The Bulls still have questions to answer even after finally getting on the board. Their first two outings did not look fully in sync, and Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis were among the players who did not seem totally comfortable in their current roles. For a team trying to settle into an identity early, that matters more than the result of one night.
The matchup also puts Chicago's front line under a harder spotlight. The Bulls are worried about the interior against Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr, a concern sharpened by Nic Claxton's absence in a game where size and rim protection already looked like problems. Jalen Smith has had strong moments, but he has not been the most physically imposing option, and Zach Collins is still working himself into game shape. Buzelis, Wilson and Leonard Miller are expected to help defensively and on the glass, which means the burden does not fall on one player alone.
That leaves the Bulls with a simple but demanding task: back up their first win with a cleaner performance against a deeper-looking opponent. If they can handle the interior and sharpen the starting unit at the same time, the 1-1 start starts to look manageable. If not, the first back-to-back set of the year could expose how much work is still left.
