Daily Bulls

The Chicago Bulls win their third straight game with a 126-118 victory against the Utah Jazz. With this win, Chicago has won the first season series against Utah for the first time since the 2016-17 season. On November 28th, the Bulls beat the Jazz 114-107 in Utah. Chicago has won 8 out of their previous 11 games and is 19-21. Utah will fall to 20-22 and stay in the mix for a top-six seed.

Zach Lavine continues to stay hot, leading the Bulls with a team-high 36 points and seven rebounds. Don’t forget about DeMar DeRozan, who added 35 points, 27 of those coming during the second half. Nikola Vucevic added 15 points and 16 rebounds. The only other player for Chicago to score in double-digits was Andre Drummond, who got 11 points.

Another good Markkanen as a guest at UC

For the second straight game as a guest at the United Center, Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points. This time in a Jazz uniform and went 12-for-20 from the field with four rebounds and career-high eight dunks. In two games as a guest since being traded from the Bulls, he is averaging 28.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals on 61.8% shooting. Besides Markkanen, nobody became red hot. Jordan Clarkson got 18 points on 50% shooting from the field. Rookie Ochai Agbaji scored 19 points, went perfect 7-for-7, and scored four threes off the bench. Utah finished the game shooting 49.5% from the field, and 29.3% from deep, and Chicago went 53% and 46.4% from three.

Utah dominate Third

After a sluggish first half for both teams, Utah exploded for 40 points during the third quarter. Utah began to attack more often to the hoop, leading to 24 points in the paint. The two main players helping that amount of points in the paint were Markkanen and Clarkson. Markkanen and Clarkson combined for 21 points and shot 8-for-9 to help the Jazz get their biggest lead of the night at eight, 89-81.

That 40-point Jazz performance included a Markkanean poster on Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic helping get Utah the momentum to finish the third. Utah finished the quarter shooting 71.4%, and Chicago was 44%, the worst in any quarter all night. But the Bulls cut the lead to five by the beginning of the fourth, 89-84.

24-7 Bulls Run helps secure W

With 9:34 left in the game, Chicago found themselves down 92-99, and Markkanen got another dunk. Next possession, Patrick Williams made his first shot of the game and missed his first seven shots. That shot would start a 24-7 run to help Chicago. Coby White and Patrick Williams made a couple of threes to rim the Jazz’ lead, and just like White made a running layup to give the Bulls their first lead at 103-101 since early in the third quarter and forced a Jazz timeout. After the Jazz timeout, Lavine, DeRozan, or Vucevic would score the rest of the points during the game (23 points).

The 24-7 run ended when the Bulls got their most significant lead of the night at 116-106 with 3:35 left in the game. Utah cut the lead down to five, 116-112, but DeRozan responded with an and-one layup to seal the deal.

Chicago shot 78.9% from the field and scored 42 points during the frame. Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan combined to score 27 points during the fourth quarter. The Bulls missed only four shots.

Final Thoughts

Zach Lavine scores 77 in B2B Nights

Zach Lavine finally feels 100% from off-season surgery and has adjusted his game, and found his role with Vucevic and DeRozan. After getting called out in Minnesota, where his career started, he has responded and scored his highest amount of points in B2B nights with the Bulls at 77 points. On Friday, Lavine scored 41 points against the 76ers. The question is whether he sustains this scoring level against the Boston Celtics. Chicago now holds the 9th spot in the Eastern Conference but is inching closer to the top six.

Cold Three-Point shooting night

Besides the third quarter, Utah couldn’t get going from deep. Utah shot 20% from deep during the fourth quarter. The good news is Utah can respond quickly within 24 hours. But they will have to face the Memphis Grizzlies. The Jazz has lost three of their previous four games. But hold the 10th spot in the Western Conference.

Up Next

Chicago will travel to face Boston on Monday.

Utah will face Memphis later today (Sunday).

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