DeMar DeRozan entered rarefied air Monday as he matched a scoring efficiency that had solely been recorded by one different participant in Chicago Bulls historical past: Michael Jordan.
DeRozan tallied 41 factors and 11 assists in a 133-129 time beyond regulation loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Before Monday’s recreation, Jordan was the one Bulls participant to ever end a recreation with greater than 40 factors and 10 assists.
The closing stat line mirrored DeRozan’s evolving function for the Bulls, who’ve relied on their veteran star to function a distributor extra this season than in earlier years. And DeRozan nonetheless delivered his obligatory scoring manufacturing, flattening the tying basket to ship the sport into time beyond regulation.
DeRozan’s new standing in Bulls historical past got here as a shock postgame. The 15-year league veteran is accustomed to setting and breaking data, however matching Jordan in Bulls historical past made a big impression.
“Anything with Michael Jordan in it is a hell of a compliment,” DeRozan mentioned. “He’s one of a kind. I never take none of that stuff for granted.”
Jordan recorded this feat 9 occasions in his profession. The final time he tallied 40 or extra factors and 10 or extra assists in a recreation was on Dec. 23, 1992, in a 107-98 win over the Washington Bullets. Jordan scored 57 factors and added 10 assists within the second-half comeback.
The recreation was preceded by a bit of quintessential drama. Coach Phil Jackson needed the Bulls to take part in a pregame shootaround. Jordan refused and an argument ensued. The star went on to drop almost 60 factors, drawing all the eye in what was additionally the two hundredth win of Jackson’s profession as a coach.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com