Bulls vs. 76ers: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

While most basketball fans could have predicted that the Chicago Bulls would be 30-8 and atop the Eastern Conference at this point in the season, few probably thought that the Philadelphia 76ers would be 22-15 and leading their division.

That is precisely what has happened, though, as the Bulls and Sixers will square off on Sunday in a battle of Eastern Conference elites. Although the Bulls have dealt with injuries to Derrick Rose and Luol Deng, they have persevered and managed to keep pace with the Miami Heat all season long.

The Sixers have gotten the job done with spectacular team defense and athleticism. They have a fairly young team, so their ability to get into passing lanes and score in transition makes them very dangerous. The last time these two teams played, Philly used that athleticism to run Chicago out of the building.

Here is everything you need to know about the Bulls and Sixers' Sunday night clash.

Where: Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Penn.

When: Sunday, March 4 at 7 p.m. EST

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: NBA League Pass

Listen: WMVP 1000 AM (Chicago) and WIP 610 AM (Philadelphia)

Betting Line: TBD

Bulls Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

No Injuries to Report

76ers Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

Out: C Spencer Hawes (Achilles)

What They're Saying

When the Bulls and 76ers met about a month ago, Philadelphia unexpectedly destroyed Chicago. It may have been that very victory that led pundits to start believing in the Sixers. While the Bulls have bounced back from that loss, they certainly haven't forgotten. Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau knows a lot of things have to change this time around, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

"

Their defense was great, Thibodeau said. We were loose with the ball. And you can’t be. They have great hands. They’re quick. You have to make simple passes. The ball has to move.

We’re a deep team. If you’re playing great defense and rebounding and taking care of the ball and you miss shots, that’s one thing. But if you’re turning it over, that’s something else. And we have to correct that. That was the story of the game. They turned us over and got easy points off it.

"

Most Important Player To Watch: Derrick Rose

Although the NBA's reigning MVP hasn't had quite as good of a season as he did last year, Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is still among the best all-around players in the game. Foot and back injuries have caused him to miss a few games, but they haven't slowed D-Rose down on the court. That is reflected by his averages of 22.3 points and 7.6 assists per game.

When these two teams met on February 1, Rose was bottled up pretty well by Jrue Holiday and co. as he managed only 18 points and six helpers. If the Bulls are going to come out on top this time, Rose will need to perform much closer to his averages. Rose has had some excellent performances in the five games since his return from injury and he'll need to continue that against the Sixers.

Key Matchup: Luol Deng vs. Andre Iguodala

While most of the focus will be on Rose in this game, there will be plenty of intrigue with regards to the battle between Luol Deng and Andre Iguodala. Both players have developed into two of the better all-around wing men in the game this season and their styles of play are quite similar. Iguodala is less of a scorer than Deng, but both can really stuff the stat sheet.

Neither player is considered the primary scorer on their respective teams, but their offensive contributions are vital, as is their play on the defensive end. It stands to reason that they will be going head to head for much of the night and the winner of this individual battle gives his team an excellent chance to win the game. Deng was out injured last time these teams met, but his presence should have a huge effect on the game.

Prediction: Bulls 86, 76ers 80