Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The disappointing 8-13 New York Knicks will host the Eastern Conference-leading, 18-6 Chicago Bulls on Thursday night in a battle between two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum. Both teams would certainly benefit from a victory, though.

Chicago has picked up where it left off last season as the top team in the East during the regular season. Defense continues to be the Bulls' hallmark, while sensational point guard Derrick Rose carries the load offensively. The Bulls will also want to turn in a good performance on the heels of a blow-out loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.

After a decent start to the season the Knicks have really fallen apart as of late. They have lost nine of their past 11 contests and have been dealing with nagging injuries to key players such as forwards Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. New York is coming off a convincing win over the Detroit Pistons, so it will look to build some momentum against Chicago.

The Bulls obviously have the luxury of losing this game much more than the Knicks do, but Chicago obviously wants to widen its lead in the Eastern Conference as much as possible. The Bulls are a slight favorite, but perhaps the Knicks are back on track.

Where: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

When: Thursday, Feb 2 at 8 p.m. EST

Watch: TNT

Live Stream: NBA League Pass

Listen: WMVP 1000 AM (Chicago) and WEPN 1050 AM (New York)

Betting Line: Chicago (-3.5)

Bulls Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

Out: SG Richard Hamilton (groin, thigh)

Questionable: SF Luol Deng (wrist)

Knicks Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

Out: C Josh Harrellson (wrist)

Doubtful: PG Baron Davis (back)

Probable: PF Amar'e Stoudemire (ankle)

What's at Stake?

Thanks to the shortened NBA season every game takes on a bit more meaning, but that is particularly true for the Knicks. New York was certainly expected to be among the top four teams in the Eastern Conference this season, but instead it will have to scratch and claw to earn a playoff spot. Everything has gone wrong for the Knicks as of late, but a win over Chicago could turn around their whole season.

The Bulls aren't in a position where they have to win all of their games, but every win helps in terms of playoff positioning. Getting destroyed by Philadelphia last game was probably more of an aberration than anything, but Chicago won't want to make that type of performance a habit. A tidy win on the road would put the Philly loss in the rear-view mirror.

What They're Saying

With a record of 18-6, the Chicago Bulls have started the 2011-12 season in grand fashion. One player who struggled to get into the swing of things, though, was big man Joakim Noah. While Noah has finally settled in, he admitted that his new contract played a role in his struggles, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

"

Yeah, no question, I thought about that. Sometimes you feel like because you're given so much money you're expected to do things. That's not the right mentality to have as a player.

I have to play my game. I have to have fun out there. If I don't, I'm not the same player.

I've always been a player who reacts well to criticism and doubters. I feel my teammates were always behind me. But I knew as well as anyone how poorly I was playing. And not only wasn't I playing well, but I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. I wasn't playing loose out there. I was playing tight.

"

Bulls Player to Watch: PG Derrick Rose

The Bulls definitely have a very solid all-around team, but there is no denying that point guard Derrick Rose is the player who makes them tick. The reigning NBA MVP is still one of the best players in the league, and his statistics reflect that. Rose leads the Bulls in scoring with 23 points per game and assists with 7.7 per contest. He also makes his high volume of shots count as he is one of the more efficient shooters on the team with a field goal percentage of 46 percent.

New York has struggled defensively during its recent skid, so there is potential for Rose to have a monster performance. With shooting guard Rip Hamilton out and small forward Luol Deng very questionable, Rose may have to shoulder the offensive burden even more than usual. If he turns in one of his vintage performances, the Bulls should be fine.

Knicks Player to Watch: SF Carmelo Anthony

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony recently missed a couple games due to nagging injuries, and sitting him out was clearly the right move by head coach Mike D'Antoni as Melo returned against the Pistons with a 25-point effort. When healthy Anthony is the key cog in the Knicks' attack, so it has to be very encouraging that he was able to bounce back.

Not only does Melo lead the Knicks in scoring with nearly 24 points per game, but he is also their leading assist man at 4.4 per game and he hits the boards as well with 6.6 rebounds per contest. Anthony is going to have to play his usual all-around game if the Knicks are going to pull off the upset on Thursday night and he has to continue to battle through whatever ailments he might have.

Key Matchup: Derrick Rose vs. Iman Shumpert

For the most part the Knicks' defense has been a joke this season, but one shining star has been rookie guard Iman Shumpert. When New York selected Shumpert in the first round it was viewed as a reach by some, but he has already proven to be a very valuable commodity. Not only is he averaging over 10 points per game, but he is often responsible for guarding the opposing team's best offensive player.

Derrick Rose is clearly the go-to guy for the Bulls, so Shumpert will likely have the task of trying to slow him down. Although Shumpert is athletic, Rose will obviously have the quickness advantage. At the same time, though, Shumpert is 6'5" and 220 lbs., so he may be able to overpower Rose. Whoever gets the better of this matchup will likely come out on top on the scoreboard.

Prediction

Bulls 101, Knicks 92