Game 26: Bulls at Nets

4:53 PM, February 6, 2012 ι By TIM BONTEMPS

Bulls (20-6) at Nets (8-17)

Game Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Prudential Center, Newark

Television: YES Network

Nets expected starting lineup:

PG Deron Williams: 20.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 8.8 apg

SG Keith Bogans: 3.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.0 apg

SF Shawne Williams: 4.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.7 apg

PF Kris Humphries: 13.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg

C Shelden Williams: 4.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.8 bpg

Bulls expected starting lineup:

PG Derrick Rose: 23.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 8.2 apg

SG Ronnie Brewer: 7.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.2 apg

SF Luol Deng: 16.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.4 apg

PF Carlos Boozer: 14.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 0.5 bpg

C Joakim Noah: 8.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.2 apg

Opposing player to watch: Luol Deng

Derrick Rose is clearly the engine that powers the Bulls machine, but Deng is the glue that keeps it together. He has missed several games this season with a wrist injury, but returned to the lineup Saturday and scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 41 minutes in a 113-90 Bulls win over the Bucks in Milwaukee.

Key matchup: Deron Williams vs. Derrick Rose

There will be plenty of fireworks when two of the league's top point guards take the floor at Prudential Center. Williams and Rose, the only two players averaging at least 20 points and eight assists per game, are both more than capable of taking over a game at any time, and it will be fun to watch them go head-to-head.

Notes: The Nets, as they have been all season, will be shorthanded tonight. Anthony Morrow is home attending the funeral of his grandmother, Lille, leaving the Nets with nine players. Damion James is out for the season following foot surgery, Brook Lopez continues to recover from foot surgery of his own, and DeShawn Stevenson (sore right knee), MarShon Brooks (broken pinkie toe) and Mehmet Okur (back spasms) are out indefinitely.

Stat of the day: With Keith Bogans replacing Morrow in the starting lineup, the Nets have had 13 different starting fives in their first 26 games this season.

tbontemps@nypost.com