The Bulls scored a 129-116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at the United Center on Wednesday night that was just as ridiculous as needed.
Here are 14 comments:
1. Talk about getting hot at the gates. When Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy asked for 2:50 time in the first quarter, the Bulls had 34 points on 12-for-14 shooting. 8-for-8 from 3-point series.
At the end of the period, the hosts led 44-34 – their highest scoring ladder this season and the second highest first period in franchise history – with a 16-for-19 shooting line off the field, 10-for-11 from deep. It set a franchise record for 3s made during the quarter. Infernal shooting, especially from Zach LaVine, who had the lead by 20 points.
2. One would think the Bulls would deteriorate massively from there. One would be wrong. At halftime, the Bulls owned 58.5 / 53.8 / 80 shooting division and a 14-franchise record made 3s – even though they were 74-66 behind.
But they came out of the break terribly and opened the quarter on a 19-2 run en route to a 40-14 third quarter. Enter the fourth, the Bulls had a franchise record making 23 threes (finishing with 25). LaVine and White combined 25 and seven 3-pointers in those 12 minutes alone.
3. Speaking of the starting lineup … It was their best performance of the season. LaVine and White combined scored 76 points and 17 at night 3s, fueling the high-scoring potential that as a duo has mostly lain dormant this season. They are the first few teammates in NBA history to each make eight 3s in a game.
4. LaVine’s 46 points – 27 at halftime, 37 to three quarters – are his season highs in the score, the 11th game with at least 30 and the second with at least 40. A continuation of his growing All-Star business.
5. White’s 30 – all through three quarters – was just as necessary, but for a different reason. He has fallen en masse since setting a career-high 36 points against the Sacramento Kings on January 6. Maybe a night like this – where he shoots without giving up and looks good at doing so – can pull him out of it. His eight 3s (out of 17) are a career highlight.
6. Filing with the Pelicans: Zion Williamson got his and scored 29 points on 12-for-18 shooting.
7. But Patrick Williams, who opened the game, agreed with Williamson while Denzel Valentine Brandon Ingram checked, remained relatively solid and finished with 2 blocks, 2 steals and a handful of deviations and kicking (also four errors).
8. Valentine got a quick hook in favor of Garrett Temple at 10:36 in the first quarter. He returned halfway through the period, but with Temple still on the floor (Valentine’s defensive assignment changed to Josh Hart).
Temple started the second half, playing 36 minutes for Valentine’s 22, although Valentine contributed 16 points and four 3s.
9. Temple made two of three three-point attempts, a welcome sign after entering 8-for-41 (19.5 percent) from distance in his last nine games.
10. Back to the Fur. Lonzo Ball’s last line: 21 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. A career high of 19 points was in the first half minutes. He shot 4-for-10 from 3 and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line
Ball now shoots 52.2 percent from deep into his last nine games. If it was an audition, it was a damn good one.
11. Luke Kornet scored his first jumble of the season, scoring four minutes ahead of Cristiano Felício, who was Donovan’s third string center in the current, shortened injury turn.
12. The result draws a four-game winning streak from the Pelicans and leaves cold water splashing on the Bulls’ 2-6 record over their last eight.
13. The Bulls did send the Pelicans to the charity line 26 times – an area that Donovan determined before the knockout, given the Pelicans ‘fourth place in the league in free throws per game (24.8) and the Bulls’ 27th position in opponent’s free throws. allowed (25.2).
That – and a solid paint point advantage – helped the Pelicans stay in the game for a while, but both are footnotes in a resounding victory.
14. To end on a high note: the Bulls averaged 36 assists at a season-high. If you know, you know.
Postgame Report
Donovan, on white breaking from slump: “He’s always been a bit of an underdog … He thinks I’m really eager to improve and get better. And he’s very competitive, and I think he probably has a lot of that throughout his life where there were a lot of people who guessed or doubted him again and again at different points and times throughout his whole life and competitive sport. I think it built up a resilience in him that he learned, that he had to believe in himself. “
LaVine, on white: ‘We are explosive enough to do that, two very good shooters … I’m so glad Coby’s got back on track. He showed that confidence again. ‘
White, look LaVine is getting hot: “It was unbelievable, brother, to be honest. He’s just a shooter, no matter how he puts the ball in the basket. That’s crazy. You see it so much. Just count the number of times this year and last year how many times have I seen him come out fiery hot like it never is – is he really hot or is it just him? ‘
White, on his slump: ‘You have to stay the course. Basketball is filled with ups and downs. You’re never going to please everyone, so I do not look too much at the discussion … I’m still growing and still learning and I know it, but I just have to be who I am and come out and play and block the noise. This is the most important. ‘
Donovan, on his way to Cornet over Felício: ‘I thought pulling their sizes out of the basket might yield some management opportunities because of Luke’s ability to shoot … Cris was really good when we took advantage of him, but when he’s in the dark ( place) play, closer to the basket it brings the bigger people (Williamson, Steven Adams) closer to the edge. ‘
Next: Los Angeles Clippers arrive in Chicago on Friday.
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