A win is a win. And we all know the Bulls needed a dang win.
Minus Alex Caruso nutmegging his defender and DeRozan executing a clutch steal and out-of-bounds-save, there was pretty much nothing pretty about this game. Both teams struggled to keep their hands on the basketball all night long, as the two teams combined for 37 turnovers.
The Bulls didn’t have as much luck as the Wizards turning those cough-ups into points, however. One of the main reasons this game was so close was due to Washington’s 28-15 advantage in the points off turnover department. The Bulls’ issues fouling also didn’t help their cause, as the Wizards shot 29 freebies compared to the Bulls’ 15.
Finally, some semblance of an NBA game started to show itself in the 4th quarter. Zach LaVine hit three triples in a row before Nikola Vucevic sunk his own to ignite a flame for the Bulls in the 4th quarter. Washington was able to trade buckets on many crucial possessions, but the Bulls ultimately showed why they are the more talented roster.
Each member of the Bulls’ “Big 3” contributed in pivotal moments down the stretch. LaVine had 13 points in the final frame. Vucevic tipped the game-sealing offensive rebound to Alex Caruso. And DeMar DeRozan scored seven of the Bulls’ final 9 points. Again, as ugly as the entire night was, this arguably ended as the trio’s best collective performance of the season.
Now, do I believe that this team is ready to turn the tide? Absolutely not. The Bulls are going to have to win in a much more convincing fashion for me to even reconsider the trajectory of this team. But, as I said, a win is a win, and I’ll take that for now.
Check out the full box score here.