Bulls continue their surge with win over Blazers |
Dustin Riese
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- 14 hours ago
CHICAGO - As much as most fans wanted the Chicago Bulls (35-42) to tank for a shot at Cooper Flagg, that isn't in this team's DNA. While they may not be considered one of the best teams in the East, they are also a team that not only doesn't quit but refuses to tank a season regardless of who is in the upcoming draft.
Entering Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers (34-44), the Bulls find themselves in an interesting situation, as they have not only clinched one of the four play-in berths but also have a chance to host the first-round game. Going even further than that, and depending on what happens over the next two weeks, the Bulls could find themselves in a situation where they could climb as high as the No. 7 or No. 8 seed, which guarantees them two playoff games. For that to happen, Chicago needs to take care of the teams they should beat, which started with the Trail Blazers on Friday at the United Center. Despite being outscored in two of the four quarters, the Bulls still found a way to get the job done. They managed to grab the lead in the third before holding on for the 118-113 win. It was the third quarter, in particular, that got the job done for Chicago. They overcame a two-point halftime deficit and turned it into a nine-point lead, outscoring the Blazers 40-29 in the third. As expected, the Bulls continue to go as far as Coby White and his offense take them as he had a massive second half to finish with 31 points. White may not have had the most efficient night shooting from deep, but he had a very efficient night overall, knocking down 11 free throws in the win. While White may have done what he had been doing for a month, it was the play of Nikola Vucevic that stood out as he took home the player of the game honor. When the Bulls are at their best, from top to bottom, Vucevic plays a massive role, as he is a force on the offensive end of the floor. You saw a glimpse of that tonight as Vucevic came out strong with 13 first-quarter points, which was a sign of things to come. He would finish the game tied with White with 31 points and 12 rebounds, his best performance in over three months. Should he continue to play like this the rest of the way, Chicago will be a tough outcome in the play-in round, and then who knows what could happen. Even with those two having the games they had, it was Josh Giddey stealing the headlines again as he recorded another triple-double. Of all the moves Arturas Karnisovas has made since taking over this franchise, the Giddey trade has to be viewed as a massive win, as he finished with 15 points, 19 rebounds, and 12 assists. If they want to keep him around beyond this season, Chicago will have to back up the truck, as he is playing himself into a massive deal. Those were the main threats to the Bulls' offense, but don't overlook Matas Buzelis and his 12-point, 12-rebound game, as the Bulls had three players with at least a double-double. Chicago also benefited from Talen Horton-Tucker posting his third straight double-figure game off the bench, as he led the Bulls' second unit with 13 points. Despite the Blazers' current standing in the Western Conference standings, there have been plenty of things to like about the direction Chauncey Billups has taken this team. Look no further than Deni Avdija, who finally found a home. Like Giddey, Avdija does a little bit of everything for his team, and with 37 points, he led all scorers in the loss. Avdija also came away with 11 rebounds and five assists, playing a significant role in the Blazers' offense. He was one of three players to reach the double-figure mark for Portland, and all three were in the starting lineup. Dalano Banton added to Avdija's game with 21 points with Shaedon Sharpe chipping in with 17. With Portland only going with four players off the bench, it resulted in a much shorter rotation for them, and that was something the Bulls benefited from late in the second half. Chicago will look to continue their rise in the Eastern Conference standings on Sunday as they will face off against the Charlotte Hornets. Lonzo Ball is expected to be a game-time decision for the game as he continues to recover from a wrist injury.
