The Chicago Bulls aren’t slowing down.
Led by one other scorching night time from Coby White, the Bulls gained their fourth consecutive sport with out Zach LaVine in a 121-112 end in opposition to the host San Antonio Spurs on Friday night time.
The Bulls are on their longest successful streak since February 2022. The sport additionally prolonged the Spurs’ skid to 16 video games, the second-longest within the league. The Detroit Pistons misplaced their nineteenth straight Friday.
Here are 5 takeaways from the win.
1. Another resurgent third quarter rescues the Bulls.
It took the Bulls a full half to heat up. While the Spurs shot 50% from behind the arc, the Bulls couldn’t crack 40% from the sector within the opening half, taking a 63-52 deficit into the locker room.
The Bulls went on a 12-0 run to erase their deficit within the third quarter, retaking the lead with simply lower than 5 minutes left within the body when Coby White sank his fourth 3-pointer of the night time. The Bulls outscored the Spurs 35-20 within the third. The Spurs had been inside one level within the fourth quarter however by no means regained the benefit.
DeMar DeRozan recorded certainly one of his worst capturing nights in his Bulls tenure, ending 7-for-24 in opposition to his former workforce. But 4 of his makes — and 9 of his 20 factors — got here within the fourth quarter as he fulfilled his clutch duties to clinch the win.
2. Coby White and Torrey Craig gasoline 3-point scoring
The Bulls struggled from behind the arc within the first half, going 4-for-15 from 3-point vary. But that modified within the second half — fueled by an explosive scoring end from White and Craig.
Both completed 5-for-7 from 3-point vary. Craig’s handful got here within the second half — 4 within the fourth quarter — to tie his profession excessive. White prolonged a franchise-record streak, notching his t10th consecutive sport with three or extra made 3s.
The Bulls went 9-for-13 as a workforce from behind the arc within the second half to enhance their capturing to a 46.4% on the night time.
White completed with a game-high 24 factors whereas Craig had 16 factors and eight rebounds off the bench.
3. Victor Wembanyama information his 1st 20-20 efficiency.
The Bulls had their arms full as they acquired an earlier look than anticipated at Victor Wembanyama, the extremely touted rookie who has dominated headlines.
At 7-foot-4, Wembanyama posed a critical matchup concern for the Bulls, who couldn’t rely as closely on switches from smaller defenders equivalent to Alex Caruso and Jevon Carter. The protection restricted Wembanyama to solely three makes from the sector within the first half, however the rookie nonetheless completed with 21 factors and 20 rebounds — the primary 20-20 of his younger profession. He added 4 blocks and 4 assists.
Despite Wembanyama’s imposing size, nonetheless, the Bulls fared nicely on boards. They snagged a season-high 24 offensive rebounds and scored 20 second-chance factors. Nikola Vučević had 10 offensive boards and 16 general and scored 21 factors.
4. Alex Caruso exits with a left ankle harm.
Injuries proceed to hinder Caruso from making a full affect on this Bulls workforce.
Caruso exited the sport within the fourth quarter after struggling a left ankle harm and was unable to return. This is a separate harm from the left toe pressure that sidelined him for 3 video games and brought on a number of different early exits this season.
Coach Billy Donovan didn’t have a prognosis for Caruso’s return instantly after the sport.
5. Patrick Williams matches a season excessive with 20 factors.
White’s current capturing has been the focus for the Bulls, however Williams additionally has been quietly constructing a constant streak on each ends of the court docket because the workforce retains successful.
Williams matched his season excessive of 20 factors, eagerly looking for possibilities to problem Spurs gamers on the rim. He shot 8-for-11 from the sector, and two of his three misses got here as the results of arduous fouls as he tried dunks. He added three assists, six rebounds and a steal.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com