The Portland Trail Blazers head to the United Center on April 4 to take on the Chicago Bulls in a matchup between two teams still clinging to postseason aspirations like passengers on a sinking ship. The Bulls, with a 32-40 record, are currently hovering around the 9th spot in the Eastern Conference, which would land them in the play-in tournament. The Trail Blazers, at 32-41, sit in 12th place out West and are in a slightly tougher spot, needing to string together wins quickly if they want to remain in contention. This game carries weight not because either team is lighting up the standings, but because the alternative—missing the postseason entirely—would be another stamp of mediocrity on otherwise forgettable campaigns. Chicago has been a frustrating team all year, oscillating between promising stretches of competitive play and mind-numbing collapses. Their record against the spread (36-33-2) suggests that they often manage to keep games closer than the sportsbooks expect. They’ve been inconsistent at home but competitive enough to be a pain for opponents. Offensively, they rely on a balanced attack with DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Coby White contributing across the board, though defense has been their Achilles heel. They’ve struggled to protect the paint and rotate effectively on the perimeter, leading to a barrage of opponent three-pointers on many nights. Still, with the play-in in sight, there’s every reason to expect the Bulls to show up with urgency and focus. Portland’s season has been slightly more chaotic.

Despite losing key players like Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams to injury for significant stretches, the Blazers have managed to scrape together enough wins to remain mathematically alive in the playoff race. Their 41-30-1 record against the spread is one of the best in the league, indicating that while they may not win consistently, they rarely roll over. They play hard, even when outmatched, and that tenacity has allowed them to cover as underdogs in a majority of their road games. The offense flows through their guards, with quick tempo and aggressive shot creation leading the way. But defensively, the wheels tend to fall off—especially in late-game situations where discipline is needed most. When these two teams face off, the margin for error will be razor-thin. Chicago will aim to exploit Portland’s shaky defense by pushing the ball and getting their scorers to their spots early in possessions. The Blazers, meanwhile, will try to get hot from beyond the arc and test Chicago’s perimeter defense, which has been suspect all season. Expect a relatively high-scoring affair, with neither team likely to lock things down defensively. It’ll come down to execution in the fourth quarter—who can take care of the ball, who can hit big shots, and who can avoid giving up three straight transition dunks. In a season of inconsistency for both squads, this matchup represents an opportunity to stabilize, grab momentum, and make a final push. It’s not the marquee event of the night, but for fans of desperation-fueled basketball, it could be a gem.