The set-up: The 32-23 Toronto Raptors head to Chicago having lost 10 of their last 14 games. Meanwhile, the Bulls return home off a 2-4 road trip in which they lost the final three games by an average of 25.7 PPG. The final loss of that trip, 117-89 at Minnesota on Sunday, leaves them at 26-29 and with the East No. 7 seed. However, the Bulls are just 1 1/2 games inside the playoff 'cut line!'

Toronto: The Raptors were last in action on Sunday and hadn't played since the previous Wednesday, the team's first three-day break of the season. Toronto seemingly had its game with the Pistons in hand but somehow let a 16-point fourth-quarter lead disappear in a 102-101 loss. It wasn't all that long ago that Toronto was putting pressure on the Cleveland Cavaliers atop the East but the team's recent slump has seen them fall four games behind the Celtics in the Atlantic Division and currently, the Raptors hold the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. "We can (get back to our previous form) but it has to be quick," All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan told reporters. "Like I said, 27 more games and that's going to fly by. We haven't got much time. When it comes to practice time, we have to be able to take things on the go and run with it." DeRozan is averaging 27.9 PPG on the season and 29.0 PPG in three games since returning from an ankle injury but missed the potential game-winning jumper in the final seconds on Sunday. His backcourt partner Lowry (22.8-4.7-7.0), is in another one of his shooting slumps, connecting of just 35.5% from the floor the past five games.

Chicago: When the Bulls lost Sunday at Minnesota, they played without Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, Paul Zipser and Nikola Mirotic. Wade (wrist) and Zipser (ankle) are questionable to return for Tuesday's game, Butler (heel and head contusion) will be evaluated after Tuesday morning's team shootaround and Mirotic continues to deal with back spasms. Jimmy Butler (24.5-6.4-4.9) has sat out four of the last five games coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after Sunday's loss that he isn't certain if shutting Butler down for games this week against the Raptors and Boston Celtics is the solution.Future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade (19.1 & 4.5) missed two of the last three and role players Nikola Mirotic (9.0 & 5.1) and Paul Zipser (4.1 & 2.3) are day-to-day as well.

The pick: Chicago looks like a M*A*S*H unit but here's the rub. The Raptors seem to have lost all confidence and here, as a fairly sizeable road favorite, will be looking to snap a 10-game losing streak to the Bulls. Maybe they will break that streak but I'll make the home dog an 8* play.