Enhanced Box Score: Magic 108, Bulls 107 — November 18, 2022

Zach LaVine shot 1-for-14 on the night, easily one of the worst shooting nights of his career. Patrick Williams had DeMar DeRozan visibly frustrated with five minutes to play in the fourth quarter after he — stop me if you’ve heard this before — hesitated on a wide-open look and got called for a travel while trying to kick it to DeRozan.

Both spent the closing minutes of the game on the bench, the Bulls’ $215 million man and the No. 4 overall pick in the first draft of the AKME era in Chicago, benched down the stretch of a tight must-win game.

DeMar DeRozan did his thing, in the second half at least, willing the Bulls back from a 19-point deficit against the lowly Magic. DeRozan scored 15 points in the third quarter alone, but it was Javonte Green who stole the show tonight.

After being benched for the entire first half and most of the third quarter, Javonte Green came into the game and injected a shot of life into the Bulls, forcing turnovers, making plays on the offensive end, and locking down the victory with not one but two slam dunks in the final minute of the game making it a 107-103 Bulls lead with 26.5 seconds to play.

Unfortunately, Green’s effort wasn’t enough in the end. Jalen Suggs scored five points in the final 20 seconds tonight to lift the Magic over the Bulls, even after Orlando blew a 19-point lead down the stretch.

Even if the Bulls would have held on, the fact that Javonte Green had to have the half of a lifetime is a significant problem for the Bulls.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan sent a message to his big three before Friday night’s game against the Orlando Magic, and it was plain and simple: You go, we go. Donovan said that if the trio of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vučević aren’t playing at the top level of their game, the Bulls aren’t going anywhere.

“I’ve got a lot of respect on a lot of levels for Vooch and DeMar and Zach and who they are as players. We’re never going to be as good as we can be as a team until those three guys really drive the opening part of the game,” Donovan said before Friday’s home game against the Orlando Magic (via NBC Sports Chicago). “It’s very easy to maybe look at Ayo being a young player or Patrick not being aggressive enough and say, ‘We’re just going to throw a guy in there.

“Those three guys are important to a team. And if we’re working around them, I don’t know if we can ever get to where we need to get to. I don’t mind saying this because I don’t look at it as pressure on them. It’s just what we have to do as a basketball team. That’s the expectation. That’s the standard. It’s not like it’s been every single game. But those inconsistencies are not going to allow us to be the team we want to be. Those three guys have to raise the level of everybody else around them.”

Donovan said that he urged his trio of All-Star teammates to raise the level of play and set the tone for the rest of the team, particularly early in games. Donovan wanted to see the Bulls come out strong rather than ease into a game and play from behind.

The Bulls big three responded by allowing the bruised and battered — and bad when healthy — Orlando Magic to score 37 points in the first quarter to take a 13-point lead over the Bulls. Here’s what the first quarter looked like for the trio:

  • DeRozan: 8 PTS, 3-7 (42%), 1 AST, 0 REB
  • LaVine: 0 PTS, 0-4 (0%), 1 AST, 0 REB
  • Vučević: 2 PTS, 1-2 (50%), 7 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK
  • With a season-long six-game road trip — featuring stops in Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Utah, Phoenix, Golden State, and Sacramento — on tap, the Bulls absolutely had to win this game tonight.

    If you weren’t worried about the Bulls before tonight, you should be hammering the panic button right now. Full stop: this was an inexcusable loss to the lowly Orlando Magic on the Bulls’ home court. The Bulls have major problems, folks, and tonight was the game that should have the alarm bells ringing in the front office.

    You can find the complete box score here:

    written by

    Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

    more bulls news

    OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

    Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

    Damian Lillard Pulled Up to Watch the Bulls Play the Trail Blazers

    Damian Lillard wants to be traded to the Chicago Bulls confirmed. The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star starter was a surprise guest at the Chicago Bulls' Monday night game. Lillard made the drive down from Milwaukee for an opportunity to sit courtside...

    Pre-Gamin’: Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls (7:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

    Tough week ahead, can't lose this one. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1769695253408198745?s=20 Game Info Portland Trail Blazers (19-48) at Chicago Bulls (34-35) – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Projected Starting Lineups Chicago Bulls Ayo Dosunmu Alex Caruso DeMar...

    Bulls Weekly Preview: Trail Blazers, Rockets, Celtics – March 18-24

    At the end of the day, I'm pretty sure a 2-2 effort last week was about what most expected from the Bulls. How they got there, however, wasn't exactly the most conventional of routes. But, hey, nothing is really ever...

    This Might be the Most Alex Caruso Stat Ever …

    Alex Caruso’s name should already be written down on All-Defensive First Team ballots – in pen.  The Chicago Bulls’ guard joined the prestigious club for the first time during the 2022-23 season. While the team as a whole struggled to...

    LeBron James and JJ Redick’s New Podcast Actually Sounds Great

    While it sure feels like everyone and their mother has a podcast these days, LeBron James’ new venture with former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick sounds worthwhile.  The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand was the first to announce the new podcast titled “Mind...

    Another Must-Win, Bulls Bracket Ideas, Defensive Drop Off, Happy “I’m Back” Day, and Other Bulls Bullets

    Pssh, the Chicago Bulls have been bringing the Madness since October! March Madness is among the best stretches in the sports calendar every year. Not only do we get to spend hours staring at our brackets and pretending we know...

    Injury Updates on Coby White and Alex Caruso Ahead of Game with Portland

    The Chicago Bulls could be without two starting backcourt players against the Portland Trail Blazers. The latest official injury report puts both Coby White and Alex Caruso's availability for Monday night into question. Of course, White has been sidelined since...

    WATCH: Kyrie Irving Beats Nuggets At The Buzzer for Epic 107-105 Win

    Between the conference tournaments wrapping up, the Players Championship's amazing conclusion, and some awesome NBA matchups it's been a phenomenal Sunday of sports viewing. With all that was on, if you didn't have the Nuggets and Mavericks game on you...

    Dosunmu’s Growth, Vucevic’s Too-Small Celebrations, Bulls Announcers Get Tricked, and Other Bulls Bullets

    The Chicago sports world was rocked by some massive news on Saturday night: The Chicago Bulls won a game by 29 points! The Chicago Bulls did what they were supposed to against the league-worst Washington Wizards. Normally, that wouldn't be...

    Latest News

    OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

    Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

    De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point prop, De'Aaron Fox must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

    Malik Monk Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

    Will Malik Monk make three 3-pointers when the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at 10:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Malik Monk's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesMalik Monk's over/under for three-pointers...

    Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

    At 10:30 PM ET on Monday, it'll be the Atlanta Hawks against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Bogdan Bogdanovic needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under for three-pointers in this...

    Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

    The Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks at 10:30 PM ET on Monday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires just one make from Anthony Davis.Anthony Davis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksAnthony Davis' over/under...

    Dejounte Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Dejounte Murray must make four from downtown on Monday, when his Atlanta Hawks face the Los Angeles Lakers, tipping off at 10:30 PM ET.Dejounte Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersDejounte Murray's over/under for three-pointers...

    D’Angelo Russell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, D'Angelo Russell must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers play the Atlanta Hawks, starting at 10:30 PM ET.D'Angelo Russell's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksD'Angelo Russell's over/under for...

    LeBron James Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, LeBron James needs to make three from downtown on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 10:30 PM ET.LeBron James' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksLeBron James' over/under for...

    Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

    The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

    Damian Lillard Pulled Up to Watch the Bulls Play the Trail Blazers

    Damian Lillard wants to be traded to the Chicago Bulls confirmed. The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star starter was a surprise guest at the Chicago Bulls' Monday night game. Lillard made the drive down from Milwaukee for an opportunity to sit courtside...

    more bulls news