So a lot for momentum.
After pulling off wins in opposition to the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks — the high two groups in the Eastern (*7*) — earlier in the week, the Chicago Bulls fell to the Thunder 123-119 in time beyond regulation Friday night time in Oklahoma City.
The loss dropped the Bulls to 8-11 and twelfth place in the East with 4 video games remaining on their six-game journey.
Here are seven takeaways from the sport.
1. The Bulls pressured time beyond regulation however fell simply brief.
After overcoming an eightpoint deficit in the second half, the Bulls pushed the Thunder to time beyond regulation and had a probability to tie or pull forward late with the ball in DeMar DeRozan’s palms.
With the Bulls trailing by two with 9 seconds remaining, DeRozan — who scored all 9 Bulls factors in time beyond regulation — lined up a midrange jumper. But DeRozan missed the potential tying shot, ending the Bulls’ two-game profitable streak.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander almost delivered a haymaker to put the Thunder forward by three with 58.8 seconds remaining, however Lu Dort drew a goaltending name for hanging on the rim, negating the basket.
The groups traded photographs all through the closing minutes of time beyond regulation. The Thunder pulled forward to stick with 27.1 seconds remaining when Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul on DeRozan with a canny shot faux from behind the arc, sinking all three ensuing free throws.
After DeRozan’s miss, Gilgeous- Alexander transformed two extra free throws with 4.9 seconds left to seal the Thunder victory. He completed with 30 factors.
2. The Bulls scored on their first 8 possessions for an explosive begin.
The Bulls jumped to a 19-7 lead after scoring on their first eight offensive possessions, spreading the scoring between all 5 starters. Nikola Vučevic scored the opening layup; Patrick Williams sank a 3-pointer and scored off a coast-to-coast run; DeRozan warmed up his jumper for a pair of early baskets; and Ayo Dosunmu and Zach LaVine slashed to the rim in the early possessions.
The streak lastly was damaged when DeRozan missed a 3-pointer at the 7:49 mark, however the environment friendly taking pictures continued as the starters went 11-for-18 in the first quarter.
3. The Bulls bench struggled early, however the starters balanced it out.
The Bulls bench has bailed out the starters loads of instances this season, rectifying the workforce’s sample of gradual begins by serving to the Bulls return to rivalry by halftime. But the roles had been reversed in Oklahoma City.
The starters handed the sport to the second unit with a 21-14 lead at the 6:18 mark of the first quarter, when Alex Caruso and Coby White entered for LaVine and Dosunmu. The bench ended its shift halfway by means of the second quarter with the Bulls trailing 41-36 after permitting a 27-15 run. Reserves contributed a mixed 17 factors in the first half, seven of which got here from Caruso.
Bulls starters used a 10-point run to tie the sport at 59 heading into the locker room. But the droop left the Bulls susceptible heading into the second half.
4. DeRozan and LaVine had a robust taking pictures night time however scored the bulk of the Bulls factors.
Despite combining for 57 factors, DeRozan and LaVine suffered uncharacteristic poor taking pictures nights. DeRozan (30 factors) went 12-for-27 and missed his solely 3-point try whereas LaVine (27) completed 9-for-23, including 4-for-11 on 3s.
The pair began effectively however cooled as the sport progressed. DeRozan went 2-for-8 in the third quarter as the Bulls offense stalled out to shoot 29% in the quarter. LaVine was 0-for-3 from 3-point vary in time beyond regulation.
The Bulls know they’ll’t rely too closely on their All-Star duo. Friday’s loss offered one other reminder that the offense can’t rely on LaVine and DeRozan alone.
5. Williams seems to be gaining confidence.
Williams continued to make notable strides after a sluggish begin to the season.
He scored 11 factors on 4-for-7 taking pictures, made all three of his 3-pointers and added six rebounds. He continued to wrestle with sustaining offensive depth for the entirety of a sport, going 1-for-4 in the second half.
But Williams’ protection stood out most. He recorded a pair of blocks and locked in on key Thunder gamers, making the most of his matchups on an in any other case poor defensive night time for the Bulls.
Williams nonetheless hasn’t lived up to the expectations of being the No. 4 choice in the 2020 draft, however his development as a defender and an offensive facilitator shall be a key.
6. Goran Dragic struggled in his return.
Dragic, who exited Monday’s sport in opposition to the Celtics with a neck damage and sat out Wednesday in opposition to the Bucks, scored two factors in 11 minutes of the bench in opposition to the Thunder. Coach Billy Donovan described Dragic’s damage as a stinger, and it was clear the discomfort affected the veteran guard’s shot.
Dragic didn’t try a 3-pointer till halfway by means of the fourth quarter and completed 1-for-5 from the discipline. His poise on the ball remains to be a carry for the Bulls, however the workforce will miss his taking pictures accuracy till he returns to full power.
7. The street for the Bulls solely will get harder from right here.
The Bulls on Friday missed a prime alternative to make the most of the solely sub-.500 workforce on the six-game journey, persevering with an odd sample of dropping to struggling opponents whereas defeating a few of the league’s finest. The Thunder improved to 8-11 with the win.
The Bulls head to Salt Lake City for a Monday night time matchup in opposition to the Utah Jazz (129). They journey to Phoenix on Wednesday to face the Suns, who at 12-6 are the high workforce in the West, earlier than heading to San Francisco on Friday to play the Golden State Warriors (10-10).
The Bulls shut the journey Dec. 4 in opposition to the Sacramento Kings (10-8), then return dwelling for a matchup in opposition to the Washington Wizards on Dec. 7.
put up credit score to Source link