The Chicago Bulls can’t surrender the identical drained script.
For one quarter Wednesday night time, they gave the impression to be pulling their heads above water. But regardless of constructing a 24-point lead over the Indiana Pacers within the opening quarter, the Bulls discovered themselves in a dogfight within the fourth quarter after squandering their benefit and misplaced their fifth straight recreation 117-113.
The Pacers took their first lead with 8:51 left and spent the ultimate stretch buying and selling photographs because the Bulls fell again on their heels.
The ultimate minutes felt like a welterweight bout during which either side dropped their gloves and began swinging. Myles Turner splashed a 3-pointer with 1:19 remaining for a 111-110 Pacers lead. Zach LaVine answered by drawing a foul and hitting two free throws. Tyrese Haliburton banked in a floater to place the Pacers again on prime.
LaVine scored 35 factors however couldn’t raise the Bulls to a victory, lacking a leap shot, a free throw and a 3-pointer within the ultimate 11 seconds as the sport slipped out of attain.
The five-game rut is the Bulls’ longest shedding streak this season.
The lows
- The Bulls proceed to wrestle to carry leads even once they begin a recreation on the correct notice. They took a 24-point lead within the first quarter solely to get outscored by eight within the second quarter and by 12 within the third. That pressured the Bulls again onto their heels as they entered the fourth with their lead lower to 4.
- Ball safety continues to be a sore spot for the Bulls, who allowed 17 factors off 13 turnovers. The Bulls pressured the Pacers into related errors — scoring 23 factors off 19 Indiana turnovers — however their errors on the offensive finish restricted their capacity to regain momentum within the second half.
The highs
- The Bulls opened the sport with warmth, scoring 39 factors within the first quarter. With DeMar DeRozan sidelined, the offense was fueled by well-spread ball motion because the Bulls tallied 10 assists on 15 made discipline objectives. LaVine scored 12 factors within the opening quarter and Ayo Dosunmu added 9. The Bulls went 4-for-10 from 3-point vary and scored 13 factors off seven turnovers.
- The Bulls broke out of a 3-point capturing drought, going 15-for-35 behind the arc. Coby White was 5-for-8 from deep and scored a season-high 25 factors. Nikola Vučević completed 3-for-5 from 3-point vary and LaVine went 4-for-11.
- Dalen Terry earned a heavier rotation of second-half minutes with accidents piling up. His defensive power once more confirmed up as he swatted away a 3-point try on one in all his first performs of the third quarter.
One for the books
This Bulls loss was a small slice of historical past: the fourth-largest comeback from the tip of the primary quarter within the shot-clock period. It was the biggest comeback from the primary quarter since 2008.
This is turning into a pattern for the Bulls, who’ve 5 losses this season during which they blew a lead of at the least 16 factors. Coach Billy Donovan stated heading off a comeback is a ability the Bulls want to enhance — however it doesn’t come all the way down to only one flaw.
“This has been something that we have to be able to overcome,” Donovan stated. “It’s skill. It’s poise. It’s composure. It’s experience. It’s decision making. It’s all those things. It’s not one thing.”
Injury report
The Bulls had been short-handed in Indiana. Besides DeRozan (proper thigh pressure), they had been lacking Derrick Jones Jr. (left adductor pressure) and Goran Dragić (left knee soreness). They referred to as up Carlik Jones and Marko Simonović from the G League Windy City Bulls to make sure a full roster.
Where they stand
The Bulls are 26-32 and stay eleventh within the Eastern Conference, one recreation forward of the Pacers.
What comes subsequent
The Bulls will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday of their final recreation earlier than the All-Star break. DeRozan is scheduled to take part in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Salt Lake City as a reserve.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com