Sixers-Bulls: 5 things you need to know

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The Sixers (18-61) will face the Chicago Bulls (47-32) at the United Center in their final road game of the season Saturday night (8 p.m./CSN).

Let's take a closer look at the matchup:

1. Limping to the finish line
The Sixers are making their way to the end of the regular season ... barely.

The team is beat up across the board. Nerlens Noel will miss Saturday's game after spraining his ankle in Wednesday's loss to the Washington Wizards. Luc Mbah a Moute has recently missed time with a shoulder injury and is expected to be sidelined against the Bulls, while Isaiah Canaan is out for the remaining three games with a foot sprain.

Not the best recipe when trying to snap a seven-game losing skid.

The Sixers won't get any sympathy from the Bulls, though.

Chicago is dealing with injuries to All-Star Jimmy Butler and rookie Doug McDermott.

However, the Bulls just got back Derrick Rose from another knee surgery, and they are coming off a huge comeback win over the Miami Heat.

2. Rose finally in bloom?
Speaking of Rose, he will be forever linked with the Sixers.

His nagging knee injuries all started against the Sixers when he tore his left ACL during Game 1 of a first-round series between the two teams in 2012.

Rose has played in just one of the last 10 matchups between the Sixers and Bulls since that point and it wasn't one to write home about. The point guard scored 13 points on 4 of 14 shooting to go along with eight turnovers in a 107-104 loss on Nov. 2, 2013.

Rose should get around 20 minutes against the Sixers as he tries to round himself into form before the postseason.

3. No defense mechanism
The Sixers have worked hard all season to improve on defense, but you wouldn't be able to tell by their current skid.

They allowed the Wizards to shoot a franchise-best 65.3 percent in Wednesday's 119-90 loss.

That was just the latest setback in the team's effort on defense. The Sixers have given up 105.2 points per game during their seven straight losses. They have also allowed opposing teams to shoot a blistering 50.9 percent from the field during that time.

4. Injuries
Butler (calf) and McDermott (back) are day to day.

Noel (ankle) and Canaan (foot) are out. Mbah a Moute (shoulder) is expected to sit out again.

Joel Embiid (foot) and Tony Wroten (knee) are out indefinitely.

5. This and that
• The Sixers' seven-game skid is their longest since they started the season 0-17.

• The Bulls are 12-3 in their last 15 home games.

• The Sixers have lost 10 of their last 11 against the Bulls.

• Mike Dunleavy scored a season-high 27 points against the Sixers on Nov. 7.

• Rookie Nikola Mirotic is averaging 15.7 points and 5.9 rebounds over his last 10 games.

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