The Chicago Bulls kick off their post-All-Star break stretch with a matchup against the New York Knicks, highlighting the stark contrast in their standings. The Knicks, aiming for a playoff push, face a Bulls team in decline after trading Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings. In the process, they've introduced new rotation players while maintaining a core led by Nikola Vucevic and Coby White. However, bad news struck as center Jalen Smith suffered a facial injury early in the game, limiting his contributions after a solid season of 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds over 50 games. With Smith sidelined, the Bulls will rely on Zach Collins to step up and fill the gap.