The 97-89 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday was not the Chicago Bulls’ worst of the season or the ugliest or the most expensive. But the second-half collapse highlighted the dearth of mettle plaguing the Bulls as they slipped additional beneath .500.
The Cavaliers performed in New Orleans on Friday in a recreation that ended previous midnight Eastern time, and so they appeared bodily fatigued from the opening whistle Saturday. Yet that didn’t cease them from outhustling the Bulls within the second half and increasing the guests’ shedding streak to a few video games.
The lows
- The Bulls appear to observe just one script once they take an early lead — buoy hope by the primary half, then sink it within the third quarter. They repeated the sample Saturday, fumbling a nine-point halftime margin. DeMar DeRozan carried the Bulls within the third with 10 factors whereas Zach LaVine didn’t rating. The Bulls dedicated seven turnovers within the quarter. Although they led 74-69 heading to the fourth, it was clear they’d misplaced any momentum.
- The third quarter was dangerous. The fourth was worse. The Bulls allowed a 22-4 Cavs run to open the quarter and had been outscored 28-15 whereas coughing up 4 turnovers. LaVine scored 9 factors within the fourth and completed with 23, , however it wasn’t sufficient. DeRozan added 16 factors and Nikola Vučević had 14 factors and 14 rebounds.
- Donovan Mitchell didn’t fairly replicate his final efficiency in opposition to the Bulls at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse — he scorched them for a career-high 71 factors on Jan. 2 — however his second half Saturday fueled the Cavaliers. Mitchell splashed a 3-pointer with 9:54 left within the recreation for a 76-74 Cavs lead, their first because the first quarter, within the decisive run. He completed with 29 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
- The Bulls bench produced little offense, tallying 17 factors. Coby White (4 factors) went 1-for-9 from the sector and 0-for-4 from 3-point vary. Andre Drummond was the one bench participant to offer significant offense, scoring eight, however he had 4 turnovers.
The highs
- The Bulls began the sport on a promising notice, going 9-for-11 in opposition to one of the best protection within the league and ending the half with a 49-40 lead. They registered 18 assists on their 22 made baskets whereas taking pictures 55% from the sector earlier than halftime. Patrick Williams stood out, opening the sport with a 3-pointer, a transition dunk and a reverse layup within the first six minutes. He completed with 13 factors.
- The Bulls outshot the Cavaliers 48.6% to 41.9%. The Cavs struggled to complete pictures regardless of rallying down the stretch, however they had been higher from 3-point vary (25.7% to the Bulls’ 23.8%).
Stat of the sport
Turnovers outlined the matchup in an outright sloppy efficiency by the Bulls. They had 11 that led to 9 Cavaliers factors within the first half, then coughed up seven within the third quarter. The Bulls had been fortunate the Cavaliers weren’t extra environment friendly, scoring solely 21 factors on their season-high 23 whole turnovers.
Quote of the sport
”It’s been (56) video games and we nonetheless haven’t figured it out. It’s clearly a priority. The extra time goes by, the much less time you must determine it out. We hold dropping video games like that, we would drop out of the play-in too.”
— Vučević after the Bulls went 0-3 on their journey regardless of main all three coming into the fourth quarter. They have 26 regular-season video games remaining.
Where they stand
The Bulls (26-30) dropped to tenth place within the Eastern Conference, solely a half-game forward of the Toronto Raptors.
Up subsequent
The Bulls return house to play the Orlando Magic on Monday, then journey to Indiana to face the Pacers on Wednesday.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com