FINAL FROM NEW ORLEANS:
NOLA 123, Bulls 108 (Bulls: 13-25, 6-12 on the road)
LEADING SCORERS: Bulls: LaVine: 32pts Nola: Ingram: 29pts
LEADING REBOUNDERS: Bulls: White and Young each with 6. Nola: Hayes: 12
LEADING ASSISTS: Bulls: Dunn and LaVine each with 6. Nola: Ingram: 11
STAT OF THE NIGHT: FTA: Nola: 32. Bulls: 21.
2nd STAT OF THE NIGHT: Nola outrebounded the Bulls 50-39.
RECAP: The Pelicans busted loose from a 48-48 halftime score by pouring in 44 third-quarter points handing the Bulls their fifth straight loss. The Pelicans beat the Bulls at the foul line outscoring them 26-12 at the stripe.
Thaddeus Young made his first Bulls start and scored a season-high 18 points, playing a season-high 35 minutes. Zach LaVine tossed in a game-high 32 points. LaVine has made at least three triples in 7 of his last 8 games. Kris Dunn collected 5 steals in addition to his 15 points - 4 rebounds - 6 assists.
Brandon Ingram's break out season continued as he scored 29 points draining four-three point field goals, going 11-12 from the foul line. Ingram suffered a sprained little finger. X-rays came back negative.
The Bulls have very little downtime as three games in four nights await them starting Friday at home as Indiana rolls into town.
24 SECONDS NBA NEWS AND NOTES:
Our CCI "Game of the Night" Denver 107, Dallas 106: Nikola Jokic scored 26 of his 33 points in the second half. Luka Doncic had a near triple-double of 27-9-10. The Mavs played their fifth straight game without Kristaps Porzingis.
Milwaukee 107, Golden State 98: Giannis Antetokounmpo registered his league-leading 32nd double-double of 30 points and 12 rebounds. The Bucks improved to 33-6.
Houston 122, Atlanta 115: James Harden lit up the Hawks from the opening tip scoring 22 of his 41 points in the first quarter en route to a triple-double of 41-10-10. Trae Young returned the favor with a 42-13-10 but his team dropped to a league-worst 8-30.
Orlando 123, Washington 89: Bradley Beal missed his fourth straight game for the Wizards. The Magic pulled to within two games of the .500 mark and currently reside as the seventh seed in the East.
Miami 122, Indiana 108: Jimmy Butler and T.J. Warren got into it as Butler told reporters post-game: " He's soft... I would never put him on me ever again. Put somebody else on me ‘cause I'm gonna tear his ... up every time we play." Meantime, Victor Oladipo announced he will return Jan. 29th at home against the Bulls since rupturing his right quad tendon a little more than a year ago.
Toronto 112, Charlotte 110 OT: Undrafted rookie Terrence Davis made his first NBA start scoring 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
San Antonio 129, Boston 114: In Boston, Kemba Walker was ejected for arguing with an official. A spectator was arrested for throwing a beer can on the floor.
Utah 128, New York 104: Former Knick, Emanuel Mudiay scored 20 as the Jazz remain red hot, winners of seven straight and 12 of 13. Knicks forward-center Bobby Portis was fined $25,000 for recklessly making contact above the shoulders of an airborne player.
Thanks for reading CCI. Reach out: cswirsky@bulls.com or Twitter @ctsbulls
Always a pleasure.