Chicago Bulls vs. Orlando Magic: Preview, Analysis and Predictions

The Chicago Bulls head into Amway Center to face the Orlando Magic on Monday.

The Bulls lost to the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on Sunday, 105-93. They shot 35 percent from the floor while allowing the Heat to shoot 51 percent. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 46 points on 14-of-24 shooting.

Chicago (43-37) has lost four of its past five games and currently holds the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Headed into the game, the Bulls ranked third in the NBA in points allowed per game, but ranked 29th in points per game. That included ranking 24th in offensive efficiency and fifth in defensive efficiency, per TeamRankings.com.

The Magic (20-60) have lost 14 of their last 16 games, including a 120-88 defeat to the Boston Celtics on Saturday. The Magic allowed the Celtics to shoot 59 percent from the field in the contest while converting 42 percent of their shot attempts. They also committed 20 turnovers, leading to 25 points for the Celtics.

For the season, Orlando ranks 24th in points per game and 23rd in points allowed per game. That includes ranking 27th in offensive efficiency and 26th in defensive efficiency. The Magic rank a middle-of-the-road 16th in turnovers per possession, but that number has gone up in their past three games.

The good news for the Bulls is that the Magic don't have a very good defense, which is going to make it easier for Chicago to score. The Magic also don't have a very good offense, which is probably why they lose so many games.

On the other hand, while Chicago has gone 3-0 against Orlando this season, all three games have been close. The Bulls have beaten the Magic by a combined nine points in those wins. They held off a late surge by the Magic on April 5, posting a harrowing 87-86 victory at the United Center.

In the end, the Magic have been playing worse than the Bulls down the stretch. A win is a win for the Bulls, I suppose, but you can't feel great about the way Chicago has played lately.

Prediction: Bulls 96, Magic 93