RealGM Basketball Wiretap

22 February 2026

• Bulls Shut Down Zach Collins For Season; Jaden Ivey Out At Least Two Weeks

  The Chicago Bulls are shutting down center Zach Collins for the remainder of the regular season. Collins needs surgery to correct a sprained right toe. The veteran center has been out since late-December due to the injury.

  The Bulls have also shut down guard Jaden Ivey for at least the next two weeks. Ivey did not play in Thursday's first game after the All-Star break. The Bulls initially said Ivey was healthy and available. After Thursday's game, Ivey spoke about how he still wasn't feeling himself since returning from last season's broken left leg and right knee surgery in mid-October. Ivey is now experiencing soreness in his left knee, so Chicago is giving him time off to see if that gets the young guard feeling back to normal.

• How to watch Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls NBA game: Tip-off time, cable channels, RSNs

  The National Basketball Association's 2025-26 regular season resumes with a high-stakes Eastern Conference clash as the Toronto Raptors travel to the United Center to face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, February 19, 2026. This matchup serves as a critical post-All-Star break litmus test for two franchises currently operating on divergent trajectories within the conference hierarchy. The Toronto Raptors enter the contest as one of the most resurgent stories of the season, currently holding a 32-23 record and occupying the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference standings. Conversely, the Chicago Bulls, with a 24-31 record, find themselves in eleventh place, desperately attempting to halt a six-game losing streak that has undermined their push for a play-in tournament position.

  Under the leadership of head coach Darko Rajakovic, the organization has emphasized a modern, high-IQ offensive system that prioritizes ball movement and the unique versatility of its primary stars. The central narrative of the Raptors' season has been the extraordinary chemistry developed between Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram.

  Scottie Barnes, in his fifth professional season, has firmly established himself as the face of the franchise. Averaging 19.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, Barnes provides a multi-categorical impact that few players in the league can replicate. His selection as an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve for the 2026 game in Los Angeles was widely viewed as a deserved recognition of his defensive dominance and playmaking growth. Barnes' ability to initiate the offense at 6'8" creates significant matchup problems for smaller backcourts, a factor that will be critical against Chicago's guard-heavy rotation.

  The Chicago Bulls arrive at the February 19 contest in a state of profound flux, navigating one of the most dramatic mid-season overhauls in recent NBA history. Entering the 2026 trade deadline, the Bulls front office, led by Arturas Karnisovas, executed a massive pivot by moving veteran core pieces such as Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu in exchange for a plethora of second-round picks and youthful talent. This strategy, while controversial among some segments of the fanbase, was designed to retool the roster around high-upside playmakers like Josh Giddey and the rookie Matas Buzelis.

  Currently mired in a six-game losing streak, the Bulls have struggled to find tactical cohesion amid the roster turnover. The team's defensive deficiencies have been particularly glaring, as they rank twenty-seventh in the league in opponent points per game, allowing 120.6 points per contest. The absence of a traditional veteran rim protector following the Vucevic trade has left rookie Matas Buzelis and newcomer Nick Richards with an immense defensive burden.

  How to watch Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls online - national and local U.S. TV channels & live streams

  The game is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026, with an official tip-off time set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The contest will take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, a venue that has historically provided a significant home-court advantage for the Bulls, though recent results have challenged that trend. This fixture marks a pivotal moment for both teams as they transition into the final third of the regular season, with Toronto looking to solidify its playoff positioning and Chicago attempting to integrate several high-impact players acquired during a hyperactive trade deadline.Fans in the local markets and across North America have multiple options for viewing the game through traditional cable and regional sports networks.

  In the Chicago metropolitan area and surrounding regions, the game will be broadcast live on the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN). This network remains the primary home for Bulls coverage following the team's recent shift in broadcasting partners.

  For viewers in Canada, the game will be carried by SportsNet, ensuring national coverage across the Raptors' primary market. SportsNet's coverage typically includes pre-game analysis, halftime reports, and extensive post-game breakdowns featuring former players and technical analysts.

  How to watch Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls internationally

  If you are outside of the USA, the NBA game between Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls should be available to livestream with an NBA League Pass.

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  Probable Starting Lineups

  The Toronto Raptors are expected to field a standard starting unit led by point guard Immanuel Quickley, who has averaged 17.0 points and 6.1 assists this season while providing essential perimeter spacing. He is joined in the backcourt by RJ Barrett, whose downhill aggression and secondary playmaking have been vital to the team's transition game. The forward positions will be occupied by the All-Star duo of Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, both of whom provide elite length and multi-level scoring. Jakob Poeltl is slated to start at center, having recently returned from a back injury to stabilize the Raptors' rim protection. The Raptors' bench will be bolstered by the availability of rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, who is expected to play through a lingering thumb injury that did not prevent him from appearing in the Rising Stars event. However, Sandro Mamukelashvili is listed as questionable with a right rib contusion, which could lead to increased minutes for Trayce Jackson-Davis or Jonathan Mogbo.

  The Chicago Bulls' starting lineup remains in a state of transition as Wes Unseld Jr. attempts to find the optimal balance among his new players. Josh Giddey is confirmed to start at point guard after practicing fully following a minor hamstring issue. He will be joined by the recently acquired Anfernee Simons, who immediately assumes the role of primary perimeter threat. Jaden Ivey, another trade deadline acquisition, is expected to start at small forward, providing elite athleticism and transition scoring.

  The frontcourt will likely feature rookie Matas Buzelis at power forward, where he has been a rare bright spot for the Bulls' defense with 1.5 blocks per game, and Nick Richards at center to combat the size of Poeltl. The Bulls' injury report remains substantial; while Giddey and Jalen Smith are expected to play, the team will be without Zach Collins due to a toe injury and Noa Essengue, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Tre Jones is also considered day-to-day with a hamstring strain, potentially leaving the Bulls thin at the backup point guard position.

  Head-to-Head Series History

  In their most recent encounter on February 5, 2026, the Raptors secured a commanding 123-107 victory at Scotiabank Arena, easily covering the 7.5-point spread. During that game, Toronto's superior depth was evident, particularly in the frontcourt where the Bulls had no answer for the Raptors' interior length. Sandro Mamukelashvili emerged as an unlikely hero in that matchup, contributing 17 points and three steals off the bench, highlighting a bench scoring advantage that has plagued the Bulls throughout the season.

  Historical data from the 2024-25 season shows that Chicago previously held a competitive edge, winning three of four matchups, but those results featured a Bulls roster anchored by veteran contributors like Vucevic and White who are no longer with the organization.

• Collin Sexton Fined $35K For Inappropriate Gesture

  The NBA fined Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton $35,000 for making an inappropriate gesture on the court.

  Sexton threw up his middle finger after missing a pair of free throws during Monday night's loss to the Nets.

  Sexton is averaging 19.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in his first two games with Chicago.

  The Bulls are 0-3 since the trade deadline.

• Arturas Karnisovas: Bulls Prioritize Youth, Flexibility After Aggressive Trade Deadline

  Chicago Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas said Thursday the franchise executed seven trades before the deadline because the team was "not satisfied with being in the middle." The moves represented a dramatic shift for an organization stuck in mediocrity for four consecutive seasons.

  The Bulls deconstructed their roster in just a few days, trading top scorer Coby White, leading rebounder Nikola Vucevic, key reserves Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter, and former draft picks Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips.

  Chicago acquired guards Jaden Ivey, Rob Dillingham, Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons, along with Leonard Miller, Nick Richards, Guerschon Yabusele and nine second-round picks in return.

  "Being in the middle is what we don't want to do," Karnisovas told reporters after Thursday's deadline. "We've seen that for the past four years, and we want to change that."

  Karnisovas did not directly use the term rebuilding, calling it instead "a stage that we're in." He outlined the team's priorities as youth, financial flexibility and draft capital while identifying Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue as core players.

  "The play-in is not our goal," Karnisovas said. "A championship is. We know where we are in standings, and we are not satisfied with being in the middle as an organization or for our fans."

  Chicago sits in tenth place in the Eastern Conference, positioned to make the play-in tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The Bulls lost to the Miami Heat in three straight years and finished with 39 wins in each of the past two campaigns and 40 the year before.

  The franchise has been exactly 18-21 through 39 games in four straight seasons, a lack of progress that finally forced Karnisovas to act. Chicago began transitioning from the Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan era during the 2024 offseason by acquiring Giddey for Alex Caruso but moved much more aggressively this week.

  The Bulls did not receive a first-round pick in any of the seven deals. Karnisovas said he did not regret waiting until now to pursue a more complete overhaul.

  "The timing of it, the stage that we are in as a team, we started this last year," he said. "Going into this season, a lot of decisions had to be made with a lot of free agents."

  Thursday's activity marked a shift for Karnisovas, now in his sixth season as Chicago's lead executive. The Bulls went three seasons from 2022-24 without making a midseason move. Karnisovas has often resisted the value of draft picks, especially in the second round, but acknowledged Thursday that "draft picks are currency."

  "We've maintained sustained flexibility heading into the offseason," Karnisovas said. "That gives us real options, whether that's free agency, trades, the draft, or continuing investment in development. I believe you cannot have too many draft picks in terms of how you can operate for the future."

• Wolves Acquire Ayo Dosunmu From Bulls For Rob Dillingham, Four 2nd Rounders

  The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second round picks. The Wolves also acquired Julian Phillips from the the Bulls.

  Dosunmu, who is a pending restricted free agent, will address the Wolves' longstanding need to improve their backcourt beside Anthony Edwards.

  Dosunmu is represented by Mike Lindeman and was an early second round pick in the Bulls in 2021 to help fuel their fast start during the 2021-22 season before injuries derailed their chance of a playoff run.

  In 45 games this season, Dosunmu is averaging 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 45.1 percent on three-pointers.

  The Bulls have had an active trade deadline as they've also sent out Coby White and Nikola Vucevic while bringing back a pair of second draft candidates such as Jaden Ivey and Dillingham. The Bulls have now accrued nine second round picks with their trade deadline activity to date.

• Mac McClung, Bulls Signing Two-Way Contract

  The Chicago Bulls are signing point guard Mac McClung to a two-way contract. Chicago had a two-way spot open after trading Emanuel Miller to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier in the week.

  McClung has played for the Windy City Bulls of the G League this season. In 24 G League games, McClung has averaged 25.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

  This is McClung's final season of two-way contract eligibility. He had a previous callup with the Indiana Pacers this season. McClung has also played for the Bulls previously, in addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic in the NBA.

• Knicks Trade Guerschon Yabusele To Bulls For Dalen Terry

  The New York Knicks traded Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls for Dalen Terry on Wednesday night.

  Yabusele averaged 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game this season for the Knicks.

  Terry averaged 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 11 minutes for the Bulls.

  The Bulls plan to keep Yabusele and will not waive him, according to Ian Begley of SNY.

• Hornets Acquire Coby White, Mike Conley From Bulls For Collin Sexton, Three 2nd Rounders

  The Charlotte Hornets have acquired Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. from the Chicago Bulls for Collin Sexton and three second round picks. The Bulls will also take back Ousmane Dieng from the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the deal, with the Hornets sending Mason Plumlee to the Thunder.

  White will be a free agent in the offseason and has been considered a strong trade candidate leading to the deadline. White is on a $12.9 million expiring contract.

  White is averaging 18.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 29 games this season with the Bulls. White is represented by Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann.

  The Bulls will receive the least favorable second rounder of the Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets in 2029, along with the New York Knicks in 2031, and the Nuggets in 2031.

• Celtics Acquire Nikola Vucevic From Bulls For Anfernee Simons

  The Boston Celtics have acquired Nikola Vucevic and a second round pick from the Chicago Bulls for Anfernee Simons and a second round pick.

  Simons is on an expiring contract worth $21.5 million after he was acquired by the Celtics as part of the Jrue Holiday trade. Vucevic is also on an expiring contract worth $21.5 million. The Celtics' luxury tax bill drops from $39.5 million to $17 million and also are of the first apron with the transaction.

  The Celtics had been looking to upgrade the center position as they have been more competitive without Jayson Tatum than many expected. Boston previously had interest in Vucevic in 2021 when the Orlando Magic traded him to the Bulls.

  The Bulls previously acquired Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. in a separate trade with the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves earlier on Tuesday.

  Simons is averaging 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 39.5 percent on three-pointers over 49 games in 24.5 minutes per game with the Celtics this season.

  Vucevic is averaging 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 30.8 minutes over 48 games for the Bulls this season. Vucevic is shooting 37.6 percent on three-pointers and helps Boston as a floor-spacing big.

  Vucevic is represented by Rade Filipovich and Bill Duffy. Simons is also represented by Duffy.

• Bulls Acquire Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley Jr., Pistons Receive Kevin Huerter

  The Chicago Bulls have acquired Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. in a three-team trade with the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pistons will acquire Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric along with a 2026 first round protected swap from the Wolves.

  Ivey becomes a pre-agency candidate for the Bulls after he was unable to agree to a contract extension with the Pistons in October.

  The Bulls have Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu as unrestricted free agents this offseason as he is also a trade candidate at the deadline with potential fit concerns alongside Josh Giddey.

  The Wolves receive significant luxury tax savings with the maneuver as it will drop from $24 million to $3.8 million. Minnesota will also drop below the first apron with the transaction.

  Detroit had a need for an additional three-point shooter as they look to further their success of their regular season into the playoffs.