The Chicago Bulls couldn’t choose up the slack of their second straight sport with out DeMar DeRozan, crumbling beneath the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offensive stress in a 124-110 loss that prolonged their skid to a few video games.
Before the sport, coach Billy Donovan stated the Bulls don’t think about DeRozan’s proper quadriceps pressure to be “serious” however the workforce is also cautious of worsening the damage by dashing DeRozan again.
The Bulls remained out of sync with out DeRozan, struggling to create and keep a rhythm of their offense. This was solely the eighth sport the Bulls have performed with out DeRozan since he signed with them earlier than the 2021-22 season.
The lows
- The Thunder arrived in Chicago on a sizzling streak after successful 4 of their earlier six video games with the NBA’s highest offensive score (123.3) throughout that span. They continued that development within the first half Friday, closing the half on an 18-6 run over the ultimate 4:35 and slicing up the Bulls in transition. The Bulls allowed a season-high 72 factors within the first half because the Thunder shot 53.5% from the sphere and led by as many as 18.
- After chopping that deficit to 1 level with a third-quarter surge, the Bulls couldn’t keep that momentum into the fourth. The Thunder opened the quarter with a 13-4 run punctuated by back-to-back turnovers by the Bulls.
- After averaging 30.2 factors within the first six video games of 2023, Zach LaVine’s taking pictures evaporated in opposition to the Thunder. LaVine went 5-for-19 from the sphere, together with 1-for-8 from 3-point vary, and scored 14 of his 25 factors on the free-throw line. The Bulls already have been struggling to take care of their offensive tempo with out DeRozan. Without LaVine’s typical output, their offense had no likelihood of maintaining with the Thunder.
The highs
- Despite latest third-quarter implosions, the Bulls flipped the script on the Thunder after halftime, outscoring them 32-19 within the third. They closed the quarter on an 18-5 run over the ultimate 6:46, sparked by Nikola Vučević and Patrick Williams. Alex Caruso’s 3-pointer with 56.6 seconds left lower the Thunder result in 91-90.
- Coby White introduced a much-needed spark to the offense off the bench, scoring 19 factors buoyed by 4-for-9 3-point taking pictures. His offensive vitality helped the Bulls draw shut within the third quarter, and he added a team-high six assists.
Stat of the sport
The Bulls tried to fight the Thunder’s sizzling scoring by opening up from the 3-point line themselves. While the Bulls struggled to create across the rim all through the primary half — usually flailing uncontrolled of their makes an attempt to assault the rim in transition — they discovered extra success behind the arc.
The Bulls took 12 3-pointers within the first quarter and 38 within the sport. Yet regardless of this elevated quantity, the Bulls barely outscored the Thunder from 3-point vary, going 12-for-38 (31.6%) to the Thunder’s 11-for-33 (33.3%).
Quote of observe
Donovan stated defensive chief Caruso stood up within the locker room at halftime and took duty for not guarding his one-on-one matchups rigorously sufficient. Caruso additionally referred to as for his teammates to step up their protection within the second half.
The protection carried that vitality into the third quarter, holding the Thunder to 19 factors after giving up 39 within the second. But that rigor rapidly pale within the fourth.
“It’s the NBA,” Caruso stated. “The finest defensive workforce within the league provides up 110 factors an evening, so persons are going to attain. It’s nearly not giving up all the pieces. We can’t hand over paint, free throws and 3s.
“We just weren’t consistent enough. That’s kind of been our downfall. … The games where we don’t play at our best is when we’re inconsistent. We have good spurts throughout the game but not a full, concentrated 40 minutes.”
Injury report
Besides DeRozan, the Bulls additionally have been lacking ahead Javonte Green, who underwent an arthroscopic debridement Wednesday after incurring a deep bone bruise in his proper knee in December.
Where they stand
The Bulls fell to 19-24 and dropped to eleventh within the Eastern Conference.
Up subsequent
The Bulls will host the Golden State Warriors for a 2:30 p.m. matinee Sunday earlier than heading to Paris to face the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com