FINAL FROM TORONTO: Bulls 109, Toronto 105.
LEADING SCORERS: Bulls:LaVine: 39 pts. Toronto: Siakam: 32 pts.
LEADING REBOUNDERS: Bulls: Vucevic: 13. Toronto: VanVleet: 12.
LEADING ASSISTS: Bulls: White: 5. Toronto: VanVleet: 8
CCI STAT OF THE GAME: The Raptors missed 18 free throws.
CCI RECAP: The Bulls outscored Toronto 37-24 in the fourth quarter erasing a 19 point second half deficit to advance in play in tournament competition against Miami Friday. The winner will capture the eighth seed and take on the Bucks Sunday in Milwaukee.
Zach LaVine scored 39 points, 30 in the second half. He was magnificent getting to the line going 13-15. DeMar DeRozan added 23. His hard cuts to the rim included two filthy slam dunks. Nikola Vucevic tossed in a double-double game of 14 points and 13 rebounds. His two free throws ice the game in the waning seconds.
After struggling shooting the three ball the first three quarters , the Bulls drained four in the final period-two by LaVine.
The Bulls scored 52 points in the paints and forced Toronto into 16 turnovers , scoring 22 points.
The Raptors missed 18 free throws in 36 attempts.
It was a tremendous game, highly competitive as the Bulls played through adversity, trailing by nine heading to the fourth quarter.
NEXT: Friday: At Miami.
CCI 24 SECONDS NBA NEWS AND NOTES
Oklahoma City 123, New Orleans 118. Shai Gilgeous Alexander scored 25 of his 32 points in the second half. Josh Giddey had a massive game of 31 -9-10. The Thunder play at Minnesota FRiday., The winner will take on top seed Denver.
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