The Chicago Bulls snapped a three-game skid with a decisive 130-113 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night time.
It was a season excessive in scoring for the Bulls as eight gamers scored in double digits. Zach LaVine logged 24 factors and DeMar DeRozan added 21, whereas Coby White dished out eight assists.
Here are six takeaways from the sport.
1. The Bulls capitalized on Jazz errors.
One scoring margin set the tone for the whole sport — factors off turnovers.
The Bulls dominated this class, benefiting from plentiful Utah errors. The Jazz turned the ball over 22 instances, leading to 30 factors. The Bulls turned the ball over eight instances, and the Jazz scored just one level off these errors.
Scoring off opponent errors was already a robust swimsuit for the Bulls, who averaged 19 factors off turnovers (eleventh within the NBA) coming into Monday’s sport. But this was their most medical show of constructing an opponent pay for its errors.
2. Heating up behind the arc.
The Bulls haven’t been a robust 3-point capturing staff this season, hitting at a 34% clip of their first seven video games. But Monday the capturing scales started to tip of their favor as they completed 18-for-34 behind the arc. White went 4-for-6 and Jevon Carter was 4-for-8.
The whole makes an attempt mirrored enchancment upon the staff’s aim to take extra 3-pointers this season, particularly in a sport dominated by open-court play.
3. Lauri Markkanen stood out in opposition to his former staff.
The one shiny spot for the Jazz was Lauri Markkanen, who dished out one other explosive efficiency in opposition to his former staff.
Markkanen was drafted No. 7 in 2017 and bought by the Bulls in the identical commerce that introduced LaVine to Chicago. He struggled with a stagnant begin to his profession with the Bulls and watched his scoring numbers dwindle in a irritating stretch from 2019 to 2021, when he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But in Utah, Markkanen has discovered himself. He earned his first All-Star choice final season whereas averaging 25.6 factors, forging an id as one of the vital environment friendly scorers within the league.
Markkanen led the Jazz with 29 factors Monday, including 5 rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
“You knew how good he was when he was here, and then you really didn’t get to see how good he was until he left,” LaVine mentioned. “It’s unfortunate, but I’m so happy for him and his career and his development and the type of person he is. We still talk and text to this day. It’s great to see the man he’s become.”
4. Jevon Carter led the bench unit.
Carter continues to carry a direct carry to the Bulls off the bench as the first guard within the second rotation. He scored 12 factors on 4-for-8 3-point capturing, taking all of his pictures behind the arc.
Carter additionally was the defensive marshal of the bench unit because it pressured the Jazz alongside the perimeter to drive errors, then instantly pushed the tempo within the open court docket as soon as a turnover occurred.
5. Andre Drummond recorded his 10,000th profession rebound.
Drummond etched his title within the historical past books within the first half when he recorded his 10,000th profession rebound.
He’s the forty third participant in NBA historical past with 10,000 or extra rebounds — and considered one of solely three energetic gamers alongside DeAndre Jordan and LeBron James. Pau Gasol and Dennis Rodman are the one different gamers to achieve the milestone whereas enjoying for the Bulls.
Drummond completed the sport with seven rebounds.
6. Alex Caruso performed via a bruised proper arm.
Caruso performed a standard rotation whereas he continued to nurse a bruised proper arm, which he banged up after a tough collision whereas finishing a dunk Saturday in opposition to the Denver Nuggets.
Caruso stayed in Saturday’s sport for one minute and briefly tried to return within the second half, however coach Billy Donovan rapidly pulled him when it turned clear Caruso was enjoying via ache.
On Monday, Caruso wore a warmth pack and wrap on his proper arm every time he wasn’t within the sport. Despite any discomfort, Caruso introduced the identical consistency the Bulls have come to anticipate — 10 factors, an help and a steal in 20 minutes.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com