The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks meet Tuesday night in Atlanta at 7:30 PM ET in a clean, mid-season measuring stick. The Bulls have won three straight and want to climb from 10th in the East. The Hawks are 15-15 and sit ninth, trying to push above .500 before the holidays. The big question before tip: who is healthy, who is not, and how does that swing the game?

Latest Bulls vs Hawks injury report, status updates

The NBA’s official injury lists dropped at 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM ET on game day, and they frame tonight’s story.

For Chicago:

• Noa Essengue (PF) — shoulder, season-ending. The report states, “Essengue is battling a shoulder injury, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.”
• Trentyn Flowers (PF) — G League, two-way, out.

For Atlanta:

• Dyson Daniels (G) — right hip inflammation, OUT. The report notes, “Daniels is dealing with a hip injury, and he is not expected to suit up against the Bulls on Tuesday.”
• Mouhamed Gueye (F) — shoulder sprain, QUESTIONABLE. As listed, “Gueye is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Bulls on Tuesday.”
• N’Faly Dante (C) — torn right ACL, out for the season. The Hawks confirmed their reserve big suffered the injury in a G League game on Dec. 19.
• Nikola Djurisic/Durisic (G) — has been on G League assignment and has also appeared on reports with an elbow tag; monitor status day-of.

One more note for clarity: some aggregated wires have included Kristaps Porziņģis (illness) as questionable/out in league-wide listings. He is not part of this Bulls-Hawks matchup, but his name may appear on broader injury feeds.

Bottom line: Atlanta has at least three rotation names on the report, while Chicago’s losses are felt more in depth than in the current core. As always, re-check the final update closer to tip since designations can shift.

“If Gueye can’t go, can Atlanta match Vucevic on the glass without Dante?”

Odds, spread and total: what Vegas is telling us

Books have Atlanta favored by 4.5 points, with a total of 253.5. That number jumps off the page. An over/under above 250 signals pace, shot volume, and a whole lot of offense. It suggests both clubs can get downhill and score in bunches.

For bettors and fans, the line also says this: home court matters here. Atlanta’s slight edge lines up with its .500 record and the Bulls’ recent surge. If the Bulls’ defense tightens up, that big total could get tested. If not, we may be in for a sprint.

“253.5 is a video-game total. Are we getting All-Star pace tonight?”

Form guide and player averages to watch

These early-season lines tell us who’s driving each team right now. A few numbers stand out.

Hawks leaders:

• Jalen Johnson: 26.5 PTS, 11.0 REB, 7.5 AST — a do-it-all wing who powers their pace and playmaking.
• Onyeka Okongwu: 15.0 PTS, 7.5 REB, 5.5 AST — activity on both ends, short-roll decisions, and boards.
• Trae Young: 17.5 PTS, 4.5 AST — the primary creator; even with a modest scoring split here, his gravity matters.
• Zaccharie Risacher: 14.0 PTS, 4.0 REB — spacing, length on the wing, and catch-and-shoot value.
• Dyson Daniels: 9.5 PTS, 7.5 REB, 6.0 AST — a helpful connector piece who is out tonight.

Bulls leaders:

• Matas Buzelis: 26.0 PPG — a burst scorer on the wing; his length and touch change Chicago’s ceiling.
• Josh Giddey: 18.0 PTS, 7.5 REB, 9.5 AST — near triple-double output; tempo, kick-outs, and paint touches.
• Nikola Vucevic: 18.5 PTS, 10.0 REB — steady double-double threat; touch inside and on the glass.
• Coby White: 17.0 PTS, 4.0 REB, 7.0 AST — pace, shot creation, and late-clock answers.

With Daniels sidelined, Atlanta loses a wing defender and secondary ball-mover. That can add pressure on Johnson, Risacher, and the guard room to cover Giddey and Buzelis without fouls. If Gueye sits too, frontcourt depth gets even thinner next to Okongwu.

“If Buzelis heats up early, do the Hawks send help and risk Giddey kick-outs?”

Matchups that could swing the night

Vucevic vs. the Hawks’ bigs: Vooch’s size and touch are reliable. If Dante is out (season-ending) and Gueye is limited or out, Atlanta may need to gang-rebound and mix coverages. Okongwu’s activity is key.

Giddey’s pace vs. Atlanta’s point-of-attack: If Chicago gets early paint touches from Giddey, the Bulls’ shooters get clean looks. Atlanta must show him bodies and shrink the floor.

Wings, wings, wings: Johnson’s all-around line (26.5/11.0/7.5) mirrors the value Buzelis brings to Chicago’s offense. This could be the quiet hinge of the game. Whichever wing drives more efficient shots may decide the fourth quarter.

Why the injury news matters strategically

Every piece on the report nudges a rotation. Daniels’ absence removes a connector and a defensive helper. Gueye’s shoulder is a size and length question. Dante’s ACL loss hurts rebounding and rim protection. For the Bulls, Essengue’s season-ending note thins depth over the long haul, but the core that sparked the three-game streak remains intact.

That is why the spread sits at a tight -4.5. If Atlanta’s wings hold up and the threes fall, they justify the number. If Chicago wins the glass and Giddey controls tempo, the road dog can flip it late.

Setting the stage in Atlanta

The backdrop is simple and fun. Ninth vs. 10th in the East. A pre-holiday crowd. A total of 253.5 that screams fireworks. The Bulls want to keep stacking wins and climb the play-in ladder. The Hawks want to plant a flag at home and step into the break with momentum.

Watch the final injury update before warmups. A single status shift — especially on the Hawks’ front line — can change how both coaches script the first six minutes.

One team steadies, the other chases. That’s the story tonight in Atlanta.