Daily Bulls

Game Preview: Chicago Bulls (5-4) at Boston Celtics (4-3)

November 4, 2022

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls will look to beat the Boston Celtics twice in 11 days in a Friday night matchup on ESPN, 6:30 CT. On October 24th, after a rough start, Chicago led by their bench to get back in the game and take off. Chicago would go on to beat Boston 120-102 at the United Center. The Celtics will be looking for revenge tonight in their home area.

Matchup to Watch

Jayson Tatum vs Patrick Williams

Patrick Williams gets another tough assignment against one of the best forwards in the NBA, Jayson Tatum. So far this season, Tatum is averaging 30.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in seven games. In the first matchup between these teams, Tatum dropped 26 points but went 8-for-18 from the field. He became cold in the fourth quarter, getting a disappointing three points on 1-for-3 shooting. Expect that change tonight in the TD Garden.

Patrick Williams has been trending in the right direction averaging 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in his last two games. He has been involved more often in the offense with the starters, getting nine shots on Tuesday and ten last night. Though the last time he faced Boston, he scored four points.

Keys to the Game

Lavine, DeRozan bounce back

If you want to beat the best in the NBA, you need your stars to shine, especially on the road in a tough environment. DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine must step up tonight in the Garden. Lavine and DeRozan last night scored a combined 19 points and shot 6-for-27 from the field. The good news is DeRozan, in the first matchup, dropped 25 points, and Chicago has had time to rest before tonight’s matchup in Boston.

Defend the Three

Defending the three has been a challenge for the Bulls in all nine games this season. The Bulls have allowed opponents to shoot 40% from deep. While the Celtics at home have shot 40%, which is in the top half of the NBA. There are times when teams will get hot out of nowhere, and when you look at the scoreboard, a team goes up by double-digits.

The three shooters for Boston to defend at all times are Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White. All players are shooting at least 40% from three at home. Another Celtics guard who could go lights off is Malcolm Brogdon, who shoots 50% from deep. Entering Friday, Boston is shooting 38% from deep, the eighth-best in the NBA.

Good Start

At the beginning of the season, Chicago never got out to good starts, and it became a terrible habit. On October 24th, Chicago got outscored 35-16 within the first 9:12 minutes of the game. If the first game had been played in Boston, that game could have resulted in a loss. Tonight’s game could be a potential playoff matchup if Chicago plays with their high energy against the defending Eastern Conference Champions, the Boston Celtics. The Bulls, in the first quarter, have been trending in the right direction, but with a good start and making the Celtics fans quiet early, that can help significantly in winning in Boston.

Injury Report

Bulls

Player Injury Status
Lonzo Ball Knee Out
Andre Drummond Shoulder Out
Coby White Quad Out

Celtics

Player Injury Status
Robert Williams III Knee Out
Danilo Gallinari Knee Out

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5 takeaways from Bulls 106-88 win over Hornets

November 3, 2022

(Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls have built a little winning streak with two games with their win against the Charlotte Hornets, 106-88. Javonte Green led the Bulls with team-high 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting off the bench. Charlotte cut the lead down to single digits in the third, but Chicago’s bench took over and pushed the lead back to double-digits.

1. Best Bench in the NBA?

Even without Andre Drummond and Coby White, the Chicago Bulls bench proved they have one of the best benches in the NBA. Three out of the five players to come off the bench scored in double-digits for Chicago. Javonte Green led the way with 17 points and going perfect, 7-for-7 and 3-for-3 from deep.

Former Miami Heat teammates of Derrick Jones Jr and Goran Dragic contributed, with Jones having 10 points playing as the center in the small ball lineup. Andre Drummond sat out his second straight game due to a shoulder injury and will be out on Friday against Boston. Dragic had 16 points, including two threes in the second quarter, to take control of the game.

2. DeRozan, Lavine struggle

For the first time this season, Zach Lavine played two games in two nights but could not stay hot against Charlotte. He finished the game with 10 points and shot 4-for-16 from the field. Lavine’s 12 missed shots should not be a concern, but those struggles will need to go away against Boston on Friday.

The other Bulls star, DeMar DeRozan, dropped nine points on 2-for-11 shooting. DeMar DeRozan was the only starter not to score in double-digits. Nine points were the lowest point total in a game in DeMar DeRozan’s career on the Bulls. DeRozan’s mid-range game was not needed but is something to look out for with the Bulls’ difficult upcoming schedule.

3. Patrick Williams breakout game

Patrick Williams led all Bulls starters with 16 points, and Williams’s aggressiveness and confidence were fully displayed against the Hornets. Over the last two games, Williams has averaged 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 2 games. Not only has Williams gotten the most challenging defensive assignments. His mid-range game has been shown, and he is getting his own shots.

4. Dragic deserves more than $1.7M

During the preseason, Dragic struggled but turned up the hot during the first nine of his Bulls career, averaging 9.4 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 rebounds in 9 games. He scored at least 15+ points in the last two games and shot 50% from three. If Goran Dragic had never signed with the Bulls over the summer, Chicago could easily be under .500. Dragic put up 16 points and three assists against the Hornets, including a self-pass out of bounds for an easy lineup.

With Coby White, not 100% and Lonzo Ball still recovering, Dragic will have many minutes. Chicago will need Dragic to stay hot against Boston, who will be looking for revenge after losing the first matchup of the season. The bulls beat the Celtics on October 24th, 120-102, at the United Center.

5. Perimeter defense is still a minor problem

With no Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso on a minutes restriction, Chicago’s perimeter defense has become a minor issue. That was the main for Kelly Oubre Jr scoring nine early third-quarter points to keep the Hornets alive. The slight problem with the Bulls’ perimeter defense is allowing key wide-open threes at the worst times with no contest.

Teams will get hot, but you must contest and get in the face of shooters. Ahead of Friday’s matchup in Boston, allowing threes to start the game could result in a blowout. Boston is eighth in the NBA in three-point percentage at 38%.

Up Next

Chicago will travel to face Boston on Friday.

Charlotte will finish road trip against Memphis on Friday.

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Game Preview: Chicago Bulls (4-4) vs Charlotte Hornets (3-4)

November 2, 2022

(Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls will get the chance to return to above .500 with a win tonight against the Charlotte Hornets. Chicago will be playing the second half of back-to-back games after winning last night against the Brooklyn Nets, 108-99. On Halloween, Charlotte finished their small two-game home stand with a loss to the Sacramento Kings, 115-108.

Matchup to Watch

PJ Washington vs Patrick Williams

With Terry Rozier unlikely to play and LaMelo Ball out tonight against the Bulls, the best scoring option for Charlotte is PJ Washington. PJ Washington is averaging 17.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in seven games this season. Washington has scored at least 28 points in the last two games and shot 55% from the field. Patrick Williams will get another tough challenge against a player who will need to play well for Charlotte to have a chance of winning.

Patrick Williams has gotten comfortable with his role on the Bulls in the last four games. In the Bulls’ last four games, Williams has scored in double-digits and shot at least 50% from the field three times. With Zach Lavine possibility being out, Williams will look to have a double-digit point performance against a Hornets team that has allowed opponents to score at least 105 points in every game this season.

Keys to the Game

Transition Defense/Rotations

Let’s be honest; after the first three quarters Tuesday night, Chicago did not deserve to have any chances of winning. Chicago made the proper adjustments in the fourth quarter and won because of Zach Lavine doing great things and their defensive energy. Nobody can beat Chicago if they get back on defense, match up fast, and rotate correctly.

Tuesday night, Almost every possession when Kevin Durant got the ball in the post, any Bulls player will come and double-team Durant, which led other Bulls players to struggle to rotate to the shooters from the outside, which resulted in Brooklyn getting open shots. Rotations must be on point, especially when rotating to a three-point shooter.

The other issue last night for Chicago was their transition defense. When the Bulls miss a shot, everybody, besides one or two players, must get back in defense and match up. That only happened a little in the fourth quarter. There were times when Brooklyn got wide-open shots, and no Bulls players were communicating on who they were guarding. Remember, Charlotte is seventh in the NBA, shooting 39% from three.

Aggressive Nikola Vucevic

Nikola Vucevic got post touches in Tuesday’s night matchup against Brooklyn but was not aggressive enough as a big man. Even though Vucevic got 15 rebounds, he struggled to be firm in the post and paint defense. Instead of dominating in the post, he chose to pass out most of the time. He was one reason for Brooklyn outscoring Chicago 44-32 in points in the paint. Vucevic has not recorded a block in the stat column since last Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers. He was the only starter not to score in double-digits, with seven points on 3-for-8 shooting.

Vucevic will get a great chance to have a good bounce-back game tonight against the Hornets’ big man, Mason Plumlee. Vucevic will live in the post and should attack Plumlee. Sometimes Vucevic will pass to an open shooter, but he must go to work to get easy buckets to keep his confidence high. Charlotte has allowed the fourth most points in the paint at 54.9 per game.

Do not fall asleep against Charlotte

Just because you won against a solid Brooklyn Nets team the night before does not mean you can fall asleep against a Charlotte Hornets team without LaMelo Ball. So far this season, Charlotte has won against a couple of good teams, the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks. Charlotte ranks top ten in assists (28.4) and three-point percentage (39%). If the Bulls get out to another slow start, Chicago can be in trouble, and the Hornets can find themselves with another upset win.

Injury Report

Bulls

Player Injury Status
Lonzo Ball Knee Out
Zach Lavine Knee Management Playing
Andre Drummond Shoulder Out
Coby White Quad Out

Hornets

Player Injury Status
Terry Rozier Ankle Doubtful
Coby Martin Quad Doubtful
LaMelo Ball Ankle Out

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Zach Lavine takes over fourth quarter in Bulls’ win over Nets

November 2, 2022

(Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls got back on track with their 108-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets, led by Bulls guard Zach Lavine with 20 points in the fourth quarter. Lavine finished the game with 29 points and five assists on 10-for-21 shooting. DeMar DeRozan dropped 20 points but struggled, shooting 8-for-21 from the field. Nikola Vucevic did not play well, scoring seven points on eight shots but got 15 rebounds.

Kevin Durant was the main reason the Nets held the lead for the first three quarters. He scored 30 points in the first three quarters. But Durant got some help, but enough to get past the Bulls in the fourth quarter. Durant finished the game with 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Other than Durant, Brooklyn got their production from Royce O’Neale with season-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Big man, Nic Claxton, got a double-double of ten points and ten rebounds. The off-court drama could be a reason for Kyrie Irving going 2-for-12 from the field, which resulted in four points. Irving scored his first basket at 10:20 left in the fourth quarter.

Lavine leads Bulls surge in fourth

After a Royce N’Neale three to put the Nets up, 88-84, the Bulls went on a 17-2 run to take full command of the game. That 17-2 run was led by Zach Lavine, who scored 20 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter. After the 17-2 run, Brooklyn ran out of energy and could not make any push. Once the run ended, Chicago was up 101-90. A Zach Lavine three gave Chicago their first double-digit lead with 2:51 left in the game, 106-94.

Chicago shot 52.4% from the field and an impressive 71.4% from three. With four out of their five threes being made by Lavine. Only four players in the fourth quarter scored for Chicago, Lavine with 20, Vucevic and Dosunmu with four points each, and Caruso with three points. DeMar DeRozan went 0-for-2 in the fourth quarter.

Final Thoughts

Bulls get 3rd win against 2022 playoff team

Chicago now has a 3-1 record this season against teams that played during the 2022 postseason. Those wins came against Miami, Boston, and now Brooklyn. Even in their loss against the 76ers, they were competitive and could have won with better refs. That is a discussion for another day, but while the attention was on Brooklyn with its drama. Chicago took advantage and hung around in the game until Zach Lavine wanted to show why he deserves a max contract. The defense will be a question mark, but for now, a win is a win.

Drama continues for Brooklyn

Hours before game time, Brooklyn announced they would let go of head coach Steve Nash. This decision was going to happen at some point in the season. But the drama going on in Brooklyn is like a reality TV show and could be getting ugly with the Kyrie Irving situation. The good news is that the Nets have Kevin Durant, at least.

Up Next

Chicago will host Charlotte later today (Wednesday).

Brooklyn will face Washington on Friday.

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Game Preview: Chicago Bulls (3-4) vs Brooklyn Nets (2-5)

November 1, 2022

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls will look to avoid their first three losing streak of the season when they face the Brooklyn Nets tonight on TNT. Chicago will be playing on TNT for the first time this season. Brooklyn will get the chance to win consecutive games for the first time this season after winning last night 116-109 against the Indiana Pacers.

Matchup to Watch

DeMar DeRozan vs Kevin Durant

Earlier today, the Brooklyn Nets let go of head coach Steve Nash after a 2-5 start to the 2022-23 season. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were not fans of Nash, and this move was expected. With that said, Durant will be on a mission tonight to prove to Steve Nash that they can win without Nash as their head coach. Durant has averaged 2.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his first seven games this season.

DeMar DeRozan will look to get his team back at .500 and back to scoring 25+ after scoring under 25 points in two out of the last three games. DeRozan will be double-teamed many times throughout tonight’s game, but he got a combined five assists in the last two games. Last Wednesday against Indiana, he got six assists alone.

Keys to the Game

Early Post Touches for Vucevic

After dropping the last two games in two nights, Chicago should get back to the basics by getting Nikola Vucevic post touches early against Brooklyn tonight. Getting Vucevic touches early in the game will allow shooters to get open shots for shooters and will get him motivated to play defense. On Saturday, it seemed he did not want to try against superstar Joel Embiid. That allowed Embiid to go off for 25 points and had the game-winner late on Saturday.

Nikola Vucevic is the key for the ball move instead of depending on isolations. If Brooklyn switches, Chicago must take advantage of the mismatches with Vucevic and get some easy buckets. Nikola Vucevic has averaged 17.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 7 games this season.

Limit the Nets from deep

Especially on the road, the Bulls can not allow the shooters from Brooklyn to take off early in the game and take a double-digit point lead in the first quarter. The Bulls have the worst first-quarter defensive rating in the NBA at 131.4. With no Andre Drummond and Coby White questionable, Chicago can not depend on their bench to get them back in the game.

The good news is that their main weapon from deep, Seth Curry, will be out, but don’t forget about Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Both players will play their first games of the season without head coach Steve Nash.

Injury Report

Bulls

Player Injury Status
Zach Lavine Left Knee Management Out
Andre Drummond Left Shoulder Out
Coby White Unknown Questionable
Ayo Dosunmu Chest Questionable
Lonzo Ball Knee Out

Nets

Player Injury Status
Seth Curry Ankle Out
Ben Simmons Knee Out

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3 takeaways from Bulls 129-124 loss to Spurs

October 29, 2022

(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls had a rough night with their loss against the San Antonio Spurs, 129-124, and the Bulls have lost their second straight road game. After another slow start, they got back in the court led by their bench. But the starters could not hold the lead late in the fourth quarter. Here are four takeaways from the Bulls’ second consecutive road loss.

1. Wake Up Call for Nikola Vucevic

With 2:47 left in the game, Vucevic got sent to the bench and did not enter back into the game. That was the game was out of reach, and Chicago was down by five with 14 seconds left in the game. In the fourth quarter, Vucevic went 0-for-2 in 2:55 minutes. He would finish the game with nine points and five points.

Vucevic will get a chance to have a back-bounce game against Joel Embiid tonight at the United Center. Remember, Vucevic will be motivated because he got drafted by the 76ers back in 2011 but got traded to the Orlando Magic one year later. Throughout Vucevic’s career, he has had struggles against the Spurs. Hopefully, this game against San Antonio is a wake-up call for someone looking to get the big bucks in the summer of 2021.

2. Andre Drummond, Coby White White perform well

Andre Drummond had himself a night with 17 points and 14 rebounds on 8-for-12 shooting from the field. With Vucevic struggling to grab rebounds against Jakob Poeltl, he got more minutes and did not disappoint Bulls’ nation. Even though they lost in San Antonio, Chicago got a steal in free agency by signing Andre Drummond. Drummond is still young at 29 and will be in Chicago for the next two seasons. Drummond had the second-highest plus/minus for any Bulls player at +13.

The highest plus/minus for any Bulls player was Coby White. White got back in double-digit points with his 19-point performance. White helped out Goran Dragic and Andre Drummond get the Bulls to get back in the game late in the first quarter. They kept the Bulls in the game, but the starters could not hold onto the lead. Chicago’s bench will key for a great season.

3. Bulls can’t catch any breaks with these hot shooters

It seems like everybody shoots lights out against Chicago. The Bulls are getting out to shooters from the outside and contesting every shot, but everybody is hitting tough shots, especially last night. After the Spurs’ hot start, the Bulls climbed back into the game. Chicago will likely not catch any breaks tonight when they face the 76ers, but they will return home to the United Center, and Zach Lavine is expected to play. He was out against the Spurs due to left knee management. Don’t expect Lavine to play the first game of any back-to-back game this season.

Up Next

Chicago will host Philadelphia tonight

San Antonio will host Minnesota on Sunday

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Game Preview: Chicago Bulls (3-2) vs San Antonio Spurs (3-2)

October 28, 2022

(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls will look to win three straight games for the first time this season on the road against the San Antonio Spurs. Both teams have been trending in the right direction after the Spurs won three out of their last four games, and the Bulls got back to their winning ways with wins against the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. But the Spurs will be without one of their significant shooters, Devin Vassell, who averages 19.8 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Matchup to Watch

Nikola Vucevic vs Jakob Poeltl

Jakob Poeltl has been a name mentioned in trade talks and could be a big piece for a championship team if he gets traded later in the season. He has earned a double-double in the last three games. After a calm defensive night against the Pacers, Vucevic will be busy against Poeltl. Both big men are in the top ten in the NBA for rebounding, with Vucevic at 11.8 and Poeltl with 10.6 rebounds per game.

Keys to the Game

Don’t fall asleep against the Spurs

Entering the 2022-23 season, the San Antonio Spurs became tankers officially by trading away star Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks for many draft picks. But the Spurs have a winning record after their first five games, led by Jakob Poeltl and Keldon Johnson. The Spurs are top ten in the NBA at three-point shooting (38.6%) and points per game at 118.

Tomorrow night Chicago will have to go back home and face the 76ers, who are looking to have their breakout game. There will be no days off or, in other words, no more easy wins for the Bulls. Chicago can not fall asleep against a tanking team and a team with nothing to lose.

More than 25 assists as a team

If the Chicago Bulls move the ball and get everybody on the court the ball, they will have a chance to compete against the best in the NBA. During the first half Wednesday night, Chicago assisted on 16 out of their 20 made shots. But once Indiana made their comeback in the third quarter, they became more dependent on shooting from deep instead of moving the ball and finding the right shot.

The Bulls can way some games by isolation, but nobody can stand a chance against the Bulls when the ball is moving. When Chicago records more than 25 assists as a team, they are 2-0, and those two wins have come in the last two games against the Celtics (29) and Pacers (34).

Injury Report

Bulls

Player Injury Status
Zach Lavine Knee Management Questionable
Lonzo Ball Knee Out

Spurs

Player Injury Status
Devin Vassell Knee Out
Joshua Primo Glute Out

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Zach Lavine leads Bulls with 28 points in win over Pacers, 124-109

October 26, 2022

(Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls get their second straight win with a 124-109 win over the Indiana Pacers. Zach Lavine had his first 25+ point performance of the season with 28 points, six rebounds, five assists, and 6-for-8 from three. Lavine and the second unit once again provided the spark to keep their lead in double-digits halfway late in the third quarter. That includes a three-pointer to extend the lead to 17, 112-95, with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter.

DeMar DeRozan struggled, going 6-for-14 from the field, and got into foul trouble with five fouls but got 17 points and six assists. Patrick Williams scored in double-digits for the first time this season with 10 points, going 2-for-2 from three and two steals in 15 minutes. Williams got the start and played at the beginning of the third quarter. Nikola Vucevic contributed with 14 points and seven rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu finished the game with 12 points and seven points.

Beautiful Start by Chicago

The Bulls took advantage of the Pacers’ first-quarter struggles with a 22-7 run started by Vucevic and Lavine threes. Chicago shot 58.3% from the field in the first quarter, with their biggest lead being 15 points during the quarter with a score of 30-15. When the bench unit entered the game, the Bulls extended their lead to as big as 24 points during the first half.

The Bulls’ second unit has proved why they are the best bench in the NBA with their high-energy players, cough cough, Javonte Green, who finished the game with eight points and rebounds. Also, the duo of Andre Drummond and Goran Dragic continues to stay strong, dating back to last season when they played together in Brooklyn. Drummond got a near double-double with eight points and 13 rebounds. Dragic was the only Bulls bench player to score in double-digits with 13 points, including two back-to-back threes to extend the Bulls’ lead to 14, 109-95, in the fourth quarter.

Indiana make comeback

The Pacers have lost the first quarter by double-digits in the first five games but have rallied from double-digit leads in a couple of games, including this game against Chicago. The Bulls were up by as much as 24 points during the second quarter. But with a Pacers 28-14 run to begin the third quarter, they trimmed the lead down to nine points, 92-85. Indiana got back in the game because of their young core, and Buddy Hield, with 13 points in the third quarter, finished the game with 25 points.

The second-year guard, Tyrese Haliburton, got a double-double of 17 points and 11 assists. Jalen Smith got 15 points, going 3-for-5 from three. In his first game of the season, Myles Turner got five points and six rebounds in 24 limited minutes. Off the bench, the Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin got 15 points against the Bulls but struggled, going 3-for-11 from the field and had the worst plus/minus of the night at -18.

Final Thoughts

DeMar DeRozan is 7 points away from 20,000

DeMar DeRozan will look to get to the 20K points club on Friday against his former team, San Antonio Spurs. DeRozan has averaged 22.2 points against the Spurs in his career and should 100% reach the 20K club on Friday. DeRozan needs only seven points after scoring 17 against the Pacers. Only 49 players in NBA history have scored at least 20,000 points in their NBA career. “I think DeMar DeRozan is a Hall of Famer,” Lavine said postgame.

Pacers do not give up

Even though Indiana was down as much as 24 points, they fought hard to get back in the game in the third quarter shooting 66.7% from the field. Indiana is young and is playing with the nothing to lose type of energy. The good news for the Pacers is the return of Myles Turner, and he should get back to his double-double ways on Friday. Indiana will travel to face the Wizards on Friday and play on ESPN.

Up Next

Chicago go on the road to face San Antonio on Friday.

Indiana continues road trip in Washington on Friday

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Game Preview: Chicago Bulls (2-2) vs Indiana Pacers (1-3)

October 25, 2022

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls will look to stay hot in a divisional battle against the Indiana Pacers. Chicago is coming off their first home win of the season over the Boston Celtics, 120-102. After a sluggish first quarter, the Bulls bench unit and Zach Lavine gave the needed spark to go from losing by 19 points to winning the game by 18. Indiana lost the first game of their five-game road trip on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, 120-106. The Pacers are a rebuilding team, but their young core Tyrese Haliburton, 2022 first-round pick Bennedict Mathurin, and Jalen Smith have made significant contributors quickly this season.

Matchup to Watch

Ayo Dosunmu vs Tyrese Haliburton

One of the future pieces that the Indiana Pacers love has been Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton has gotten off to a good start for the season averaging 24.0 points and 9.8 assists in 31.5 minutes per game. Last season, he got traded along with Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson from the Sacramento Kings to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, and a 2023 second-round pick. Even though the Pacers will probably not make the postseason, Haliburton has a bright future in the NBA.

Ayo Dosunmu will most likely get the assignment of guarding Tyrese Haliburton. Dosunmu is coming off an excellent bounce-back game with 22 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the field. Stopping Haliburton will be a challenge, but Dosunmu will be ready and be out to prove why he is a two-way player. Last note, both of these players are 22 years old.

Keys to the Game

Good Start

Entering Wednesday night, Chicago has been outscored in three out of the four games in the first quarter. The only time Chicago outscored their opponent in the first quarter this season was against the Washington Wizards, 30-26. The Bulls did start with a 10-2 run against Cleveland, but that lead vanished quickly.

Chicago has a great chance of getting back on track early in games against a rebuilding Indiana Pacers squad. The Bulls can not afford to play from behind for the fifth straight game. Getting a good start will mean the starters will have to show more energy and motivation to compete on both sides of the ball. For the Bulls starters, moving without the ball and giving Vucevic post touches are key.

Patrick Williams breakout game?

It’s unknown if Patrick Williams will start or not Wednesday night against the Pacers. Patrick Williams has not gotten off to a rough start, averaging 5.3 points and shooting 32% from the field. He could not get any shots to fall early on Monday, but Williams being aggressive was a great sign. After the game, Billy Donavon said Williams took a step forward against Boston, “he played really well in the third quarter, which was encouraging to me. I felt like he responded.”

Williams has a good chance of having a breakout game on both sides of the ball against a rebuilding Indiana Pacers team. Chicago could change their starting lineup on Wednesday, but Williams should start again and get opportunities to score early. “He’s a great kid, and I think he has really incredible potential in the future, and you know we all believe in him, and this is a process,” said Donovan.

No days off

Even though the Indiana Pacers are in a rebuild and have lost three out of their first four games, Chicago can not fall asleep after their big win against the defeating Eastern Conference Champions, Boston Celtics. Every win matters this season, especially with how stacked the Eastern Conference is this season. The Bulls can not afford to play down to their competition.

You can not rule out the Pacers from winning this game; Indiana has a chance of their big man Myles Turner returning from an ankle injury, who is questionable for Wednesday’s contest. Indiana is top ten in the NBA with 117.8 points per game and 47.5 rebounds per game.

Injury Report

Bulls

Player Injury Status
Lonzo Ball Knee Out

Pacers

Player Injury Status
Myles Turner Ankle Questionable
Daniel Thesis Knee Questionable

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Despite slow start, Bulls surge over Celtics 120-102

October 25, 2022

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

After being down as much as 19 points during the first quarter, the Chicago Bulls won by 18 points and handed the Boston Celtics their first loss of the 2022-23 season. DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 25 points, five assists, and five rebounds. On his 32nd Birthday, Nikola Vucevic got 18 points and 23 rebounds. Vucevic and Drummond combined for 35 rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu had an excellent bounce game with 22 points, missing one of ten shots.

5 Takeaways from Bulls win

1. Another Slow Start by Chicago

The Bulls have gotten outscored in the first quarter in three out of their first four games. Even though Chicago fought their way back to win this game with their bench and second-half surge, they can not afford to play from behind every game. This game could have been totally different if the Celtics got out to a 12-0 run in their home building. Chicago did shoot 50% from the field in the first quarter, but they did not show any fight early on the defensive end, allowing 39 points.

On Wednesday, against a rebuilding Indiana Pacers team, Chicago will get a great chance to have a fast start and possibly allow their starters to rest late in the game. The Bulls start their second set of back-to-back games on Friday on the road against the San Antonio Spurs and return home to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

2. Boston hot early but cool off after

The Boston Celtics came out to play from the start with a 12-0 run within the game’s first three minutes. Chicago could not score a basket until the 7:44 minute mark of the first quarter. Boston was 72.7% from deep and 58.3% from the field in the first quarter. During the second quarter, the Celtics only made six out of 25 shots. After the first quarter, Boston shot 30.3% from the field for the rest of the game.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 25 out of the 39 points in the first quarter. Tatum would finish the game with 26 points, and Brown got 21 points. The other players to score in double-digits were Marcus Smart, with 11 points, and new Celtics addition Malcolm Brogdon, with 12 points.

3. Bench Unit + Lavine lead comeback

At the 3:32 mark of the first quarter, Marcus Smart made a three to extend the lead to 19 points, and Bulls fans were thinking about a repeat performance from Saturday night. But instead, once the bench unit and Zach Lavine entered the game. The bench unit includes Goran Dragic, Alex Caruso, Javonte Green, and Andre Drummond. They got back in the game quickly with a 21-5 run.

Chicago got more ball movement and energy out of their bench unit. Bill Donavon made the correct adjustment to keep either DeMar DeRozan or Zach Lavine on the court at all times after what happened against Cleveland. During the second quarter, Derrick Jones Jr got some playing time with the bench unit and Lavine. A Goran Dragic layup gave Chicago their first lead of the game at 46-44. The Bulls would outscore the Celtics 35-15 in the second quarter.

4. Bulls take full control during third quarter

When you thought Chicago would start hot in the third quarter, Boston began the second half with a 12-4 run to cut the lead down to three, 69-66. The Celtics big three of Tatum, Brown, and Smart finally got their team back in the game within four minutes. But after a Chicago timeout, they would outscore Boston 31-13 in the final 8:19 minutes of the third quarter. Boston could not shoot well enough to keep up with the Bulls and headed up losing by 21 points heading into the fourth quarter, 100-79.

Chicago scored whenever they wanted to, but more importantly, they were aggressive, leading to 16 points in the paint in the third quarter. The Bulls would finish the game with 46 points in the paint.

5. Patrick Williams Struggles

Heading into the Bulls’ next matchup against the Indiana Pacers, Chicago could look at changing their starting lineup with Javonte Green instead of Patrick Williams. Williams did get open shots early but could not seem to get any shots to fall. He would finish the game with four points, shooting 2-for-7 from the field in 14 minutes of playing time. He ended the game with a plus/minus of -9, even though Chicago won by 18 points. It will take some time for Williams to be more aggressive against the best of the NBA. But a game on Wednesday against the Pacers could be the game that Williams needs to build his confidence.

When Chicago got back in the game, Javonte Green helped give the spark for Lavine and DeRozan. On Saturday, when Chicago made a third-quarter push, Green was in the game. Javonte Green finished the game with six points and one steal on 2-for-2 shooting in 16 minutes. Another forward contributor was Derrick Jones Jr, who scored ten points in 14 minutes.

Final Thoughts

Bulls get back in the win column

After an impressive win in Miami, Chicago lost two in a row and got blown out in their season opener against Cleveland. But now the Bulls have two wins against the teams who played in the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami Heat and now the Boston Celtics. Chicago will have a couple of winnable games before playing the 76ers on Saturday.

Celtics lose first game of season

After starting the season with a perfect 3-0 record, they get their first loss on the road in a tough place to win. Nobody could get hot during the second half, and frustration kicked in during the third quarter. Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla got ejected for complaining about why Nikola Vucevic did not receive a technical foul when Vucevic got mad at a questionable call. Jayson Tatum got a technical, and Grant Williams got ejected for making contact with a ref. Boston will get a few days off to cool down before playing Cleveland.

Up Next

Chicago will host Indiana on Wedneday.

Boston will host Cleveland on Friday.

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