The Chicago Bulls get their second straight win in blowout fashion over the Dallas Mavericks 144-115. DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with team-high 28 points and nine rebounds. Nikola Vucevic scored 20 points and eight rebounds. Zach Lavine added 16 points. Chicago’s big three of DeRozan, Lavine, and Vucevic each shot at least 60% from the field.
With Luka Doncic not being available due to a quad strain and playing a doubleheader within 24 hours, Dallas did not have a chance against Chicago. The Mavericks fall to 0-2 without Doncic in the lineup. Spencer Dinwiddle kept the Mavericks in the game and cut an early Bulls lead to ten at the end of the first quarter. Dinwiddle finished the game with 27 points.
Christian Wood almost got a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr struggled, shooting 4-for-13 from the field, which resulted in 13 points. JaVale McGee scored 18 points and made his three-pointer of the season. Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy got 15 points in 22 minutes.
Former All-Star Kemba Walker, trying to make an NBA comeback, scored eight points and five assists. Before signing with the Mavericks, Walker dealt with knee injuries that kept him out of the league.
Bulls smoking hot fire first half
After barely beating a Washington Wizards team without Bradley Beal, Chicago sent a message against the Mavericks with an 18-4 run to start the game. The Bulls dropped a whopping season-high 40 points during the first quarter. Dallas managed to still stick around by Dinwiddie’s 15 first-quarter points.
When you thought the Bulls wouldn’t score 40 points in a quarter ever again, Chicago managed to score 43 points during the second quarter. The Bulls started the second quarter with a 26-6 run and got their lead up to 31 points.
One stat that can explain the Bulls’ domination during the second quarter was Dallas made seven shots (23 shot attempts), and Chicago missed only six shots. Chicago made 15 out of 21 shots. DeRozan led the way by getting 13 of his 28 points during the second quarter.
Dallas managed to win the third quarter battle, 32-31, but the damage was already done. With the Bulls looking ahead to the second game within 24 hours, more bench players got more minutes than expected. Derrick Jones Jr scored season-high 16 points, and Ayo Dosunmu got 17 points off the bench. Andre Drummond got 14 points and seven rebounds. The Bulls would finish the game with 63 bench points, while Dallas had 49.
Bulls set new season-highs
Do not expect Chicago to explode for 144 points, but let’s enjoy the moment and look at the potential if everybody gets hot for one night. The Bulls set the following new season-highs:
- 40 First Quarter Points
- 42 Second Quarter
- 82 First Half Points (Franchise Record)
- 19 Three Pointers Made
- 144 Points
- 63.5% shooting percentage
Alex Caruso Injury Update
The only starter for Chicago that did not score in double-digits was Alex Caruso, who left the game during the first quarter with a tailbone contusion. He finished the game with one point in six minutes. According to head coach Billy Donovan, Caruso will not make the trip to Atlanta tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
Bulls get hot at the right time
After struggling on the west coast, questions got asked about the big three’s future in Chicago. But now they got two straight wins at the United Center. Everything went the Bulls’ way, and they broke some records while winning by as much as 33 points against the Mavericks. With this win over the Mavericks, Chicago is now 11-14. The Bulls will have a great chance of getting back to .500 next week, with tomorrow against the Hawks without Dejounte Murray and facing the Knicks twice (Wednesday and Friday).
Mavericks catch bad break with schedule
The Mavericks get a day off before starting a three-game homestand on Monday. Dallas decided to rest their superstar Luka Doncic after playing with less than 24 hours to prepare for their matchup against the Bulls. Dallas arrived at their hotel in Chicago at 4 AM after losing a close game against the Milwaukee Bucks at home. Dallas will fall to 13-13.
Up Next
Chicago will face Atlanta later today(Sunday).
Dallas will host Oklahoma City on Monday.
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