Hawks Visit Bulls as Wilson Sidelined
Atlanta faces Chicago on Friday as the Bulls, on an eight-game losing streak, play without injured rookie Caleb Wilson.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Basketball
The Atlanta Hawks visit the Chicago Bulls on Friday, with Atlanta having won four of its last five games and Chicago having lost eight straight. Caleb Wilson fractured his right hand in Wednesday's 124-119 loss to San Antonio and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Why it matters
The matchup pits a Hawks side that has been winning against a Bulls team searching for its first victory since Oct. 23, while Chicago's frontcourt depth is tested without Wilson. For Chicago fans, the early-season stretch puts pressure on the rotation as the team looks for stability.
Wilson averaged 18.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in Chicago's first 10 games before his injury. Buzelis has averaged 19.7 points on 66.7% shooting across his past three games against Atlanta, though the source does not say how that compares to his season baseline.
The players
Caleb Wilson
Caleb Wilson is a Chicago Bulls forward whose early-season production made him a key contributor before his hand injury.
Matas Buzelis
Matas Buzelis is a Chicago Bulls forward who could take on a larger offensive role while Wilson is out.
CJ McCollum
CJ McCollum is a veteran NBA guard who reached 17,000 career points while coming off the Atlanta bench.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is an Atlanta Hawks guard who has scored at least 20 points in five straight games.
The details
Caleb Wilson left the Bulls' loss to San Antonio in the third quarter with a fractured right hand and will miss four to six weeks. Atlanta, coming off a 124-114 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in which it committed 20 turnovers, is led in recent scoring by CJ McCollum, who reached 17,000 career points with 21 off the bench, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 20 for his fifth straight game.
Timeline
Oct. 23: Chicago wins its last game before the current losing streak.
Monday: Atlanta loses 124-114 to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wednesday: Chicago loses 124-119 to San Antonio, and Wilson is injured.
Friday: Atlanta visits Chicago as NBA Cup group play resumes.
Nov. 27: NBA Cup group play concludes.
Season Trajectory
Friday's game is part of NBA Cup group play, which runs through Nov. 27 and determines which teams advance. For Chicago, an eight-game losing streak early in the group stage narrows its path, while Atlanta's recent winning run keeps it in contention.
Fantasy managers relying on Wilson's production will need to replace his minutes and scoring over the four-to-six week absence. Buzelis's recent usage could make him a more useful roster option while Wilson is out.
The takeaway
Injuries to young rotation players can quickly reshape a team's early-season identity, and Chicago's next several games will show whether its depth can hold up. Readers tracking the NBA Cup should watch how the standings shift as group play nears its close.
What happens next
NBA Cup group play continues through Nov. 27, when the group stage concludes.
Further reading
For more on the Bulls' season, see Chicago Basketball coverage.
