The Chicago Bulls adopted the identical stale script Thursday of their second consecutive loss, crumbling within the second half of a 111-96 defeat to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets — who’ve the second-worst document within the Eastern Conference at 14-36 — are a not a staff that wins readily on the Spectrum Center. They entered the sport having registered solely 5 house victories.
The Bulls (22-26) fell to 0-2 on a three-game journey towards sub-500 groups that just a few days in the past gave the impression to be a golden alternative to increase a successful streak and transfer up within the East standings. Instead, they dropped out of the playoff image and are in eleventh place.
The lows
- The Bulls continued a worrying pattern of permitting results in evaporate within the third quarter. After making a 55-47 benefit to finish the primary half, the Bulls appeared set to guard that margin for the opening eight minutes of the third quarter. But that resilience melted away within the ultimate 4 minutes because the Hornets went on a 10-0 run to tie the sport 71-71. Although the Hornets managed to take a five-point lead, the Bulls closed the quarter with a 7-0 run to regain the lead. Alex Caruso had an offensive rebound and putback layup to safe a 79-77 margin heading into the fourth.
- All 5 Bulls starters reached double digits in scoring by halfway by means of the third quarter, however that wasn’t sufficient. The Bulls have been held beneath 100 factors by the fourth-worst protection within the NBA regardless of a 28-point efficiency from DeMar DeRozan. Zach LaVine went 8-for-19 from the sphere and completed with 18 factors whereas Nikola Vučević went 5-for-16 and scored 12. The Bulls shot 37-for-91 (40.7%) from the sphere general and registered solely 5 assists within the second half.
- This was an particularly chilly evening of 3-point taking pictures for each groups. The Bulls didn’t make a 3-pointer within the third quarter. The Hornets missed 18 consecutive 3-point makes an attempt within the second half. But they have been capable of sink a pair of 3s within the fourth quarter and completed 7 of 32 (21.9%) whereas the Bulls went 4-for-25 (16%) from behind the arc — registering three of their 4 makes within the opening quarter.
The highs
- The Bulls took a 55-47 lead into halftime behind a balanced offense, registering 11 assists on 23 makes whereas LaVine, DeRozan and Vučević every reached double digits in scoring. The promising begin, nonetheless, was nonetheless marred by sloppy possessions and a scarcity of depth on protection, which was partially bailed out by the Hornets’ poor 3-point taking pictures.
Quote of the sport
”We’ve obtained to return out and be extra determined. We’re not determined sufficient. Teams are popping out and enjoying the way in which we must always. It’s not till we turn into extra determined that issues are going to alter. If not, it’s all going to remain the identical.”
— DeMar DeRozan
Stat of the sport
A scarcity of ball management fueled yet one more second-half collapse from the Bulls, who coughed up 5 turnovers within the third quarter to gas the Hornets on their run.
Injury report
Goran Dragić missed the sport due to a non-COVID-19 sickness, however coach Billy Donovan mentioned the backup guard is anticipated to satisfy the staff in Orlando on Friday.
Where they stand
The Bulls fell to 22-26 and dropped to eleventh place within the East.
Up subsequent
The Bulls wrap up their three-game journey towards the Magic at 6 p.m. Saturday in Orlando, Fla.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com