Sam Smith; Game Recap

On a night where the United Center - the players, coaches and fans - recognized and honored Kobe Bryant, it was Zach LaVine, number 8, who turned it on in the fourth quarter (scoring 14 of his 23 points) to push the Bulls past the Spurs to grab a 110-109 win.

Number 8 for the Bulls Monday just couldn't get anything to go down. It happens to the best sometimes. Six of seven misses in the first quarter, another in the second. Four halftime points, and then just five more in the third quarter as the Bulls fell behind the San Antonio Spurs by double digits. But then came the crucible, when his team needed him the most, when he was the most ready.

"My teammates kept telling me, ‘Help us win this game,'" Zach LaVine said. "All I needed to see was one go in."

And so LaVine did, a three with 8:47 left in the game after a Chandler Hutchison offensive rebound. And then there was a where-did-he-go driving score and another, another three sandwiching five points from Luke Kornet. And then when everything stopped and everyone stared, when LaVine had to make a pair of free throws with 2.1 seconds left, he did. And when DeMar DeRozan had to match that with two tenths of a second left he didn't. And on the night the Bulls remembered Kobe Bryant, LaVine paid the Lakers' legend the most appropriate tribute by winning a game as Kobe would, 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and the no blink free throws to a 110-109 victory for the Bulls.

"I'm not scared to fail or miss any shot," LaVine said. "So give me the ball. I think I'll make them. I'm ready to take them, good or bad, (and be satisfied) with the results."

Just like Kobe probably would have said, and did during his legendary NBA career.

The Bulls &amp; Spurs start the game with 8 &amp; 24 second violations in honor of Kobe

The NBA remained still stunned and in mourning following the Sunday death of Bryant, his daughter and friends in a helicopter crash. Some players asked out of games; the NBA accepted the Lakers' request to postpone it's Tuesday game with the Clippers. Tributes were performed in every NBA arena, the Bulls and Spurs exchanging eight and 24-second violations as the game began in recognition of Bryant's playing numbers. There was a 24-second silence and a video homage. The United Center exterior was lit in Lakers purple and gold and featured portraits of Bryant. Hundreds of fans wore Bryant jerseys to the game. Players decorated sneakers to honor Bryant. Fans adorned the sidewalks outside the arena with chalk-written praise.

But everyone still had to go to work, which was Bryant's basketball life.

And then to figure out a way to succeed, which the Bulls did in one of their better all around efforts, seven players scoring in double figures led by LaVine with Denzel Valentine equalling a season high with 16 points and four threes.

"I thought Denzel was terrific," said Bulls coach Jim Boylen. "He's kept himself ready and he came in and helped us win a game."

The Bulls were the more spirited guys with 19 second chance points and a 50-47 rebounding edge, three more steals, a block and eight assists from Kris Dunn, 12 points and nine rebounds from Kornet and 13 points each from Tomas Satoransky and Thad Young.

The Bulls moved to 19-30 and a don't-look-now-but just two games out of the last playoff position and only two and a half out of seventh with the Magic and Nets sliding. The Spurs are 20-26. They got 36 points from DeRozan, who needed one more and almost made it two more and a win when he rebounded and shot putted his second free throw miss back toward the rim but short as time expired. It might have counted. But this time the Bulls were the ones to close, coming from 11 points behind in the fourth quarter and getting their second straight win without Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and Daniel Gafford. LaMarcus Aldridge was out injured for the Spurs.

"All the players were willing themselves through the game," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "It's a tough time for all the players; just not one or two. It was either young guys that idolized Kobe or older guys who knew him. Everybody is in that same boat emotionally. I think they (Bulls) competed harder through most of the 48 minutes."

The shock is not diminishing much among NBA players with Bryant gone so young at 41 along with daughter Gianni and friends. Everyone knows, intellectually, that no one is immortal. It's just that Kobe seemed so undaunted, charging through games, injuries, controversies like few ever have and emerging with more charm and humanity. LaVine wears No. 8 for inspiration.

"Kobe had a big impact on a whole generation of kids," said LaVine. "We looked up to him. My generation, he was our Michael Jordan. That was one of my idols growing up."

The flood of emotions that have washed over the basketball world, the whole world, really, with Bryant a beloved figure overseas and especially in Asia, has been unprecedented. Never in basketball has someone so exalted and accomplished been taken away so suddenly. It's left so much of the electrifying and theatrical basketball world numb and dazed.

"We know how hard it is and everyone deals with it in a different way," LaVine said. "It was good to honor him that way (pregame). The gym didn't really have a lot of energy to it and it makes sense. We had to settle in and play."

It was challenging for both teams in a laborious first half in which the Bulls quickly trailed by 11 points and then 28-21 at the end of the first quarter. LaVine, especially, seemed enervated. Long benched for no reason anyone could fathom, Boylen tapped Valentine and the Spartan made up for his spartan existence with crucial threes. Hutchison showed enthusiasm driving to the basket and even showed off a mini-flex after one left handed slam dunk. The Bulls inched ahead 50-48 at halftime.

Then came the dreaded third quarter. The Bulls have found all sorts of ways to fall behind after halftime, this time with Patty Mills leaving Coby White asking for missing person help and making a pair of threes for 11 third quarter points. And DeRozan, a dinosaur master of the mid range game, pulling up for short range scores and drawing fouls. DeRozan had 16 points in the quarter and not-your-father's Spurs led 85-75 entering the fourth quarter.

"I got off to a slow start," LaVine acknowledged. "I made some boneheaded plays on layups, (once) trying to switch hands (on a breakaway) and stuff like that. I missed some easy ones. I think I started off like one of 10. I just had to settle in. I'm always confident. That's how you turn a bad game into a good one."

Which is the way the great ones always see it; not so much what went wrong, but what they're about to do to make it right.

The Bulls began their comeback with another Valentine three.

"Just trying to do what I can and staying ready," said Valentine.

There hasn't been much reason for Valentine to be engaged, though he always is, one of the more energetic players on the bench this season. Perhaps because he's there more than anyone. But with all the injuries, he got the call and responded with even a team best plus/minus rating.

Valentine's three with 10:19 left kicked off an 8-0 Bulls run and it was game on. LaVine took the handoff and helped the Bulls finally take the lead at 96-95 with 6:09 left. And then it was a toggle switch of a finish, six lead changes and ties in a game with 25 on the teeter totter. It was 103-103 with 3:14 left when Boylen surprised Popovich. There's not much of that intentional fouling lately as most of the poorest shooting centers have improved. Not so the Spurs Jacob Poeltl. Boylen called for fouls on two straight possessions, Poeltl obliging by making one of four and giving the Bulls back the momentum and a 108-104 lead when Young made a three off a Dunn pass with 2:29 left. The Bulls with 28 assists moved the ball with alacrity and selflessness, extra passes yielding more open shots and 14 of 37 on threes.

Boylen chose not to bring help against DeRozan, who made 14 of 17 free throws. But those best laid plans did work.

"We are not going to pull off and double him in his isolations," said Boylen. "Now we are giving up a three to guys that can stroke it."

The Bulls still almost gave it away, committing three consecutive turnovers, a Satoransky offensive foul, an eight-second violation against LaVine when he was pressured and a Dunn offensive foul after two vigorous Bulls offensive rebounds. DeRozan had a jumper in that midst and he tied it at 108 with 8.6 seconds left on another isolation turnaround.

The Bulls called timeout for LaVine to drive, benefiting from a late foul call. LaVine coolly made both free throws for the 110-108 lead with 2.1 seconds left. But then Dunn brushing by DeRozan was called for a foul with two ticks. The long of it was that DeRozan's instant follow of his miss on the second free throw came up just short.

"At the end it turned into a dogfight," said LaVine. "Both teams making big plays. DeMar was making tough shots. We went down there and answered every time. Luckily he missed that free throw. I don't think (Kobe) would like anybody not to go out there and compete."

That's the best tribute to Bryant legacy. Don't back down; stand up and go for it.

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Bulls Beat Spurs on Back of Strong Fourth Quarter

Friday was a hard day for the Bulls, as they found out that they would be without Lauri Markkanen for 4-6 weeks before losing to the Kings in the evening. A 12 point 4th quarter from the Bulls saw the Kings run away with a 98-81 win.

It was that kind of day for the Bulls Friday. First they lost Lauri Markkanen for perhaps four to six weeks with a pelvic condition, then they lost their cool, back to back technical fouls for Zach LaVine and coach Jim Boylen, and then the Bulls lost to the 14th place Sacramento Kings 98-81. And if that wasn't bad enough, then they had to go to Cleveland.

"You have to keep playing," said LaVine, who led the Bulls with 21 points. "Nobody is going to feel bad for you. They're going to try to take advantage of it. We've got guys that can step up. Thad (Young) has played 13 years in the NBA. I don't think he's scared to step in. He thrives in those situations. We just have to pick each other up and keep fighting."

And so goes this 2019-20 Bulls season that is going from stars to star crossed as the Bulls record dropped to 17-30.

Markkanen's surprise injury was diagnosed Thursday with an MRI after persistent soreness hadn't disappeared. The promise of the season and a perimeter shooting game came with the lineup that included Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. All are now injured and out until after the All-Star break next month, leaving the Bulls Friday to start Kris Dunn, Luke Kornet and Young with LaVine and Tomas Satoransky. And Cristiano Felicio being employed as first off the bench for Kornet. It suddenly leaves the Bulls as the giant oak looking like an acorn, an offensively challenged game mostly built around LaVine.

Chandler Hutchison was second in scoring with 11. Young and Dunn had 10 each as the Bulls were eight of 37 on threes.

But it may be too late for any major alterations.

"We have to adjust some things," acknowledged Boylen. "Do we play a little differently? Maybe. I will evaluate the shots we got and what else we had. But I am not going to reinvent the wheel in January or February. I'm not going to do that; we'll see how it goes."

And so it went mostly to LaVine, who was on the way to saving the Bulls for awhile despite a debilitating team hangover to start without Markkanen for the first time this season.

The Kings swarmed the basket for a 13-3 start, forcing Kornet out early for Felicio, who did lead the Bulls with nine rebounds. The Bulls gathered themselves a bit behind LaVine, Young and Dunn with a solid across the board game with six rebounds, six assists and a league leading 28th multiple steals game.

The Kings still led 29-21 after one quarter. The reserves with Hutchison and Ryan Arcidiacono leading got the game tied at 33 before Boylen shook up the rotation and gave Denzel Valentine another look. It still was the Kings by 10 at halftime when LaVine ripped off his cape. His personal 10-2 run to start the second half with Dunn piggy backing five more gave the Bulls a 59-56 lead.

"We came out at halftime with the appropriate edge and we played our butts off that first five minutes of the half to get ourselves back in it," noted Boylen. "I like those positive things when we respond and we react. I thought we did. We struggled to make shots at key moments and they made big threes that spread the lead."

That was with a surge from Buddy Hield, who led the Kings with 21 points. Harrison Barnes had 19 and De'Aaron Fox 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds with a poster dunk or so.

The Bulls problem was the next time LaVine looked up after that 10-2 start, the Kings has two and sometimes three players following him, LaVine even losing his temper once after being bounced around by three Kings in what seemed like a box and one defense.

"Zach's the primary guy and they treated him like the primary guy," said Boylen.

"I tried to begin the third quarter really strong and be more aggressive," said LaVine. "Just pick my spots, when to try and pick us up in the scoring column or get dudes open because I know I have some guys on me. I think we did a good job attacking it. We got out in transition when they did double. We skipped the ball and got it to the corner. We just didn't make enough shots."

The Bulls were still leading 69-68 with two minutes left in the third quarter on a Valentine floater.

"I thought our guys battled," said Boylen. "I thought they tried. I thought the care factor was really high."

But the Kings cared, too, and they scored the last seven points of the third as Kornet and Valentine missed threes. And then the Bulls not so ready this time reserves gave up ground to start the fourth, Hutchison and Coby White with multiple turnovers. Eventually LaVine was smothered into a pair of misses that led to frustration technicals for he and Boylen. Trailing by 17 points with about four and a half minutes left, Sacramento was king again.

"They made their run after we did ours," said LaVine. "I missed some early baskets which could have changed the game a little bit. We held them under their average. We've got to get somebody (else) to step up and I think we'll find it. First game without Lau; we'll figure out what we have to do in Cleveland."

But suddenly there are complicating decisions.

For the game to game, it's unclear how the Bulls can make up the 50 or so points expected from Markkanen, Porter and Carter. Especially with Boylen still utilizing Felicio, Shaquille Harrison and Ryan Arcidiacono as primary reserves. White can get hot from time to time, but he's also going to get more attention. Suddenly Satoransky is staggering at the worst time, four straight single digit scoring games and averaging 5.3 points on 30 percent shooting and one of 10 on threes in that stretch.

It's going to have to be a lot more of LaVine just to stay in games after a Bulls 12-point fourth quarter.

"That's up to coach," LaVine said. "I'm prepared for everything. I'll play my role and do what I have to do with the minutes I get. I look to be more aggressive and assertive at times when I feel we need a boost. At certain times of the game I might (have to) assert myself and we'll see what happens. But we do need some guys to step up."

But now comes the trading deadline in less than two weeks. So should the Bulls be a buyer to tread water until the injured players return with the seventh and eighth place East teams both slumping? Or be a seller to try to add players or draft picks going forward? Look toward the draft? Hold onto a playoff dream when just one streak after the All-Star break could save the season?

It quickly has become a pivotal time for the team and for the franchise.

"Maybe we have to do it by committee, maybe it is a different guy every night," said Boylen. "We will find one and we will figure it out. They'll work and they care. We're in a difficult stretch in the schedule and we've had some issues with our injury bug. We're just going to keep working at it."

bulls-fall-to-kings

Bulls Fall to Kings

Zach LaVine is no MJ. No one is; there is no next Jordan. But if you never saw Jordan at his best or forgot what it looked like, it looked like Zach LaVine Saturday, 21 fourth quarter points among his 42, team highs in rebounds, steals and blocks, and loading up some very large men on his shoulders to carry the Bulls from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to a 118-116 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"Zach was dynamic," said Bulls coach Jim Boylen. "If that's not an All Star performance, I don't know what is; 27 in the second half, competed, boarded; just played. He's been a monster. That was a herculean effort tonight."

Even if it was the rebuilding Cavaliers, who fell to 12-31, there still was Kevin Love with 29 points, Tristan Thompson, a notorious Bulls irritant, and a flashy young backcourt that led the Cavs to an unfathomable 73-56 halftime lead making 12 of 17 three pointers. "They jumped on us in those first three quarters; they were playing better than us," acknowledged LaVine. The Cavaliers led 102-83 with less than a minute left in the third quarter.

This was another game surely headed for that Bulls hall of shameful losses, the Cavs finishing a six-game road trip and, like the Bulls, traveling into Chicago only Saturday morning instead of Friday night on the second of a back to back because of the snow. The Bulls were going to be shoveling up some explanations once again.

It wasn't just LaVine who enabled the Bulls to escape with a 16-28 record heading into Milwaukee Monday among the annual Martin Luther King Jr. series of games. The Bulls finally abandoned the showing/trapping pick and roll defense that teams, even the Cavs Saturday with inexperienced head coach John Beilein, have been exploiting. The defense which was fundamental early in the season in enabling the Bulls to vastly improve their defense, has been a sieve without injured Wendell Carter Jr. With Daniel Gafford also out, Luke Kornet starts at center and again scored well, 11 points in making three of five three pointers. But Kornet is ungainly and Love kept springing open for easy threes. Guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland then did as well.

"We picked up our energy," said LaVine. "It just took us a long time. They were making shots, knocking down their threes. They were killing in what we call out black (defense) when the big man was up. Kevin Love was slipping out of it every time and knocking it down. I think he had like 25 in the first half or it felt like it (23)."

Even with LaVine scoring three straight times in the middle of the third quarter, concluding with a double pump reverse dunk on a fast break, the Bulls couldn't trespass on the Cavs' inroads.

"Just wanted to put a little flair to it," said LaVine. "Sometimes those dunks can give the team a little bit of energy. You saw the next one. I was tired. I just barely touched the rim."

But there was plenty more of Zach to come.

LaVine has been on one of the great offensive runs in franchise history. This is an era of statistical esoterica. So LaVine's line of at least 42 points, six rebounds, three assists and five steals has only been matched or exceeded in franchise history by Jordan. And LaVine's 19 field goals added to the recondite as the most by a Bulls player since Scottie Pippen in 1997. No one is suggesting LaVine is at a level of those legends as LaVine hopes next month to merely be selected for his first NBA All-Star team.

But he's now averaging 25 points per game, 12th in the NBA, and 20th in the league in steals, a significant factor for a player whose defense is often criticized. LaVine in the fourth quarter had more steals than the entire Cavs team, the Bulls' only block and a pair of crucial rebounds between Love and Thompson to save possessions. Only the truly great ones do things like that. The difference is how often they do so. Consistency equals legacy in most everything.

In the last 10 games, LaVine is averaging 30.6 points, 5.1 rebounds (leading the team in rebounding the last three games), 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals. It was LaVine's second game of at least 40 points in eight days, ranking him fourth among Bulls all-time in most 40-point games, just two behind Jimmy Butler. It is his third game of at least 40 points this season, second among Eastern Conference players.

Though as LaVine will always note, it's not nearly enough without the team's on court success.

So the Bulls finally made the crucial defensive adjustment. They dropped the ball pressure and went to a switching defense to open the fourth quarter with a smaller, quicker lineup with Lauri Markkanen at center and Chandler Hutchison at power forward. Markkanen would finish with 17 points, Kris Dunn 10 with a bounce back defensive effort and Hutchison with a vital, game saving defensive play late.

"We were switching everything," said LaVine. "I felt we were a lot more athletic and faster; it was an aggressive lineup. We were out there making plays and we needed to; we were wearing them down. We made the adjustment that was good."

It also helped that the embattled former U. of Michigan coach, rookie Beilein, misread the Bulls change and left in a group of reserves without much scoring. Thus longer, taller and more active with the Cavs playing the overmatched Matthew Dellavedova, rookie Darius Garland, former Windy City product Alfonzo McKinnie and the sluggish Thompson, the Bulls produced six turnovers in the Cavs first seven possessions. The Bulls would end with 17 steals, forcing 26 turnovers for 33 points.

Before the Cavs bench could respond, the Bulls had gotten within 104-98, the United Center was engaged and LaVine was in the midst of his herculean 12 labors, slaying the Cavs, capturing the momentum for the Bulls and helping the Bulls steal a game that seemed long decided.

There were scores in transition off some of the turnovers, but also LaVine eschewing the season long flirtation with three pointers and driving into the maw of the Cavs defense for score after score.

"We were getting our (butts) kicked," noted LaVine. "I didn't think we should be down that much to a team we should be competing with or beating. We had to flip it around and if we didn't it was going to be ugly. It's make or break time; we're not going to get back in the game playing nicely. So I'm going to attack the body, try to make them make a call. I'll take that on myself.

"It's something I felt I had to do tonight," LaVine said. "I felt I had to step into that role. I felt I could give us that jump and take over and win the game. I got it going to the hoop. I was using more midrange on the back to back. We made a lot of defensive stops. Chandler came in and made some really big plays, Kris Dunn's defense was incredible."

Dunn always seems to get credit for about half the steals he makes, forcing one when the Bulls finally took their first lead since early in the second quarter at 108-107 with 4:38 left, drawing an offensive foul on Love a few moments earlier and a steal to set up LaVine going all the way for a 110-109 lead with 3:39 left.

Boylen said he's been calling Dunn a cephalopod, which is a fairly ugly creature, a predatory mollusk like a squid or octopus. Boylen means it admiringly.

"We joke about the guy being a cephalopod, extremely fast and an agile being; he was all over the place," said Boylen.

Dunn was mostly amused by the reference in a jovial Bulls locker room after Thad Young had given LaVine a paper cup water shower during LaVine's post game interview with NBCSports Chicago.

"That what he calls me," said Dunn. "I already know what I call myself, a dawg. Cephalopod? Never heard of it. He's been calling me that all season. He feels once I get going on the defensive end the term cephalopod, his words, speedy agile, athletic, basically a monster. He feels once I get going, I can be that. But I've got a lot more work to do."

Once the avalanche starts, there's little chance of getting away and pretty much nowhere to run. Same with those NBA comebacks. Though the Cavs finally substituted and took a 111-110 lead on Love free throws with 3:28 left. the result seemed inevitable. Markkanen and Tomas Satoransky briefly supported LaVine with baskets. And the Cavs almost tied it with 20.1 seconds left when with the Bulls leading 114-111, Markkanen fouled Love on a layup for a three-point play.

"I was just trying to run him off the line and not give him the three pointer and hoping we had someone on the back side," said Markkanen. "We didn't, so he ended up getting a wide open layup. I didn't think I fouled him. I was surprised (about the call)."

Boylen smartly had kept his challenge and the foul call was overturned, leaving the Cavs trailing 114-113 with 20.1 seconds left and the Cavs needing to foul. LaVine then duped Garland on an inbounds pass and drove baseline for a score and three-point play.

"This is my (stuff)," LaVine shouted toward the Bulls bench and into the stands.

It was 117-113 on the LaVine three point play. But the Cavs out of a timeout got a three from Cedi Osman with 11.9 seconds left to draw within 117-116. Instead of inbounding and the presumed foul, the Bulls called timeout. Kornet was assigned the inbounds pass. He obviously looked toward LaVine, who was doubled. Instead of going to the open Satoransky, Kornet forced a high pass to LaVine, which went out of bounds for a turnover. Cavs ball with 8.6 seconds left. Oh no!

They threw in to Love, who turned right in the lane to drive at Hutchison, who also had four steals. Hutchison did well to bump and stay with Love. But the weary veteran couldn't get much lift and attempted a driving bank shot which fell well short with 2.7 seconds left. Dunn rebounded and clutched the ball. He was fouled and made one of two. But the Cavs didn't have a timeout left and had to force a fullcourt pass, which Hutchison grabbed to end the game.

And continue what's been lately the legend of Zach.

zach-to-the-rescue-as-bulls-grab-win-over-cavs

Zach To The Rescue As Bulls Grab Win Over Cavs

The Bulls and Miami went at each other on Sunday night, with the game seeing 32 lead changes and a period of overtime to finally find a winner. Unfortunately for the Bulls, it was Miami who - on the back of 3 OT 3s from Herro - grabbed the final lead change of the evening to claim a 110-105 win.

Miami on Sunday turned up the Heat on the Bulls. The Bulls this time didn't melt, didn't shrivel and didn't try to hide behind shades. They were more inclined to throw some shade at the guys who embarrassed them in the United Center two weeks ago. Any team hates to measure progress in defeat, which the Bulls again endured, losing 110-105 in overtime to Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat and Miami's Herro.

Sometimes you do make the correct moves and play the better game and succeed everywhere but in the celebration.

"Nobody likes to lose," agreed Bulls coach Jim Boylen as the Bulls record fell to 8-16. "We're not happy with the loss. I've got a frustrated group of guys in there that want to win. That's important, but I have to measure this young group in other ways than that. I have to. Better first quarter start, which we did. For the most part our defensive rebounding was really good. Our transition defense was really good, our physicality was good. We moved the ball; we executed. We ran things to get open shots. We did a lot of really good things. Ultimately you want to win. I cannot take away from the good things we do and the growth we're making. But it hurts."

We've heard that lament often this season, and you'd rather not hear about being young so much. But Boylen made the right moves, Lauri Markkanen scored at least 20 points for the third time in the last four games with a team high 22, Kris Dunn had a season high 16 points with crucial plays down the stretch and in overtime and Coby White had a career best eight assists playing more point guard late and finishing the game. Zach LaVine with 18 points didn't lead the Bulls in scoring for the first time in nine games, but he made free throws to tie the game at the end of regulation and faced a constant double team that enabled teammates to get open. Miami's philosophy, like Phil Jackson's always was, is you don't let the opponent's best player beat you.

"In many regards that was a game that you are not supposed to win," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "They outplayed us for large parts of that game. You have to credit (their) defense. They made it tough for us to generate the looks we are normally getting. Everything was just a little bit out of our comfort zone. They are unique. They really are disruptive and they do that to everybody. First in steals and first in turnovers forced. There were plays where you see they closed the gaps quickly."

Also the kind of thing the winning coach will say, sure. But the Bulls did those things in holding Jimmy Butler to three of 14 shooting and Miami to 11 of 35 on threes.

But in the end Sunday it was the Heat's version of Herro ball as rookie Tyler Herro, who was four of 11 and one of three on threes through the first three quarters, gave Miami the 97-95 lead with 7.1 seconds left in regulation on a three and then shot up — and shot down — the Bulls with three consecutive three pointers in overtime.

The Bulls weren't letting the opponent's best player beat them, either, as those threes all came with the Bulls collapsing around Butler, who did bash his way to 17 of 21 free throws. Butler's rebound of his own missed three with 44.2 seconds left in overtime in a tie game - the second Miami offensive rebound of that possession — did prove fatal for the Bulls chances. LaVine missed a three after that and Miami was able to run out things when Markkanen missed a three with a few seconds remaining.

"I thought we were in control of the game and did a hell of a job," said Boylen, the frustration seemingly almost physical by this point. "I thought in the second half we battled and we got a lot from a lot of guys. Denzel (Valentine) had a moment, Coby was terrific. He had the ball in his hands a lot more. Lauri had a great game and we battled. I like the way we fought and I liked the way we competed and I thought we played our (butts) off."

All of which the Bulls did this time. Though once again the lack of a reward to match the effort and commitment is demoralizing. It can rupture the most adamantine spirit. It's to the credit of the players they continue to view the finish line inevitably attainable. Though there's always the question of how much longer they can keep oiled up without the balm of success.

"A lot of guys played well," said Dunn. "I thought we did the right things to put us in position to win a game. We just didn't come out with the victory. Good thing about the NBA is games come quick. (Monday) we play Toronto at home, so hopefully we can bring the same intensity and get a win."

And so it goes for this star crossed group that if lacking the transcendent star continues to deliver starring moments. Just not enough of them often enough.

Miami now at 17-6 is not an elite team. They do have an elite record, which makes it all the more frustrating. You know many Bulls players, certainly with the proper respect, have to be asking themselves after these games, "We lost to those guys?"

Herro had 27 points and Bam Adebayo added 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. But the Bulls badgered him into seven of Miami's seven turnovers. Though Adebayo is a fast improving young big man, he's not a facile playmaker. So the Bulls were able to continue to trap and pressure Miami's pick and roll plays without the roll man being able to pass and float lobs like the Warriors did to ultimately upend the Bulls Friday.

The Bulls have committed to that pressuring defense, which has opened some eyes around the NBA by forcing so many turnovers. Teams with good passers have been able to dissect it successfully. But with Goran Dragic out injured and the Bulls sending multiple defenders at Butler, Miami was without a top interior playmaker. The result was one of the better Bulls defensive efforts of the season, the Heat with 97 points in regulation, 14 below their season average.

"I think our defense is improving," said Boylen.

The Bulls dominated early with a 25-16 first quarter lead. Remember, this was the Miami team that scored the first 15 points in the United Center last month. Thaddeus Young was back from his one-game personal absence. Plus, the Bulls weren't searching out threes so robotically as they had been earlier this season. Dunn was taking advantage of the pressure against LaVine to drive from the left wing corner. He didn't attempt a three and had his best game. Valentine was three of four on threes with multiple threes for the fourth straight game. Plus the Bulls were closing hard on the Miami shooters and even reacting to mismatches.

Boylen was sharp responding that way, too, as he called a timeout in the second quarter to apparently change up plays for Carter when the Heat went smaller. Carter immediately scored on consecutive possessions and the Bulls went back ahead. They led 49-47 at halftime as LaVine closed the half with seven straight Bulls points. It would draw him more defensive attention.

Markkanen had an "atta Lauri" third quarter with 13 points and three of four three pointers. He pulled up for one in transition and slammed in a LaVine three-point miss on a follow. The game would have 32 lead changes and ties, and Bulls kept making plays this time. Miami led 74-73 after three quarters, but the Bulls looked a step - and a shot- ahead in the fourth.

Watch as Lauri slams home a put-back dunk vs. the Miami Heat

Dunn got free throws fouled on a runner for an 83-80 lead with 6:45 left. The ball danced from Bulls player to player and Markkanen gave up a good shot for a better one to White with 5:40 left for an 86-82 Bulls lead. Dunn took a pass from the surrounded LaVine and drove for an 88-85 lead with 4:31 left. The Heat kept answering, but it did feel this time like the Bulls were turning up the temperature. White was primarily at point guard late in the game playing for Tomas Satoransky as Boylen relied on Dunn's defense against Butler.

"I thought Coby was terrific tonight, handling the ball and making decisions; we are doing more of that," acknowledged Boylen.

LaVine made one of two free throws for a 93-92 lead with 1:24 left after an Adebayo three-point play. And then Markkanen matched a Herro driving score with a neat head fake and 20-foot drive for a 95-94 Bulls lead with just under a minute left. Perhaps one more big defensive play. Miami was trying to isolate Butler at least for free throws, but the Bulls were appearing from everywhere in front of him like a fun house mirror. It made enough sense as Heat players were shooting poorly and the Bulls were recovering well though to the perimeter. Except this time Herro, who generally is a good shooter but was struggling, tied the game with a three on a Butler pass out with 7.1 seconds left. LaVine was fouled and made two free throws for overtime.

"I went in there and crashed and he made an unselfish play, a great play to Tyler Herro and he knocked it down," said Dunn. "(It's) what Jimmy does; he draws a lot of attention."

LaVine got the Bulls the lead to start the overtime after a clever White offensive rebound. Dunn's three-point play on another weak side baseline drive gave the Bulls a 102-99 lead with 3:13 left. Herro made a three which White countered. White played all but eight seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime. Herro's step back three tied the game at 105 with 1:48 left in overtime. LaVine found Markkanen on a mismatch, but the Heat closed and Markkanen threw back to LaVine. He missed. Then came the crucial sequence when Adebayo and Butler got offensive rebounds, the second the Butler pass for Herro's hero moment.

"The guy made a good shot," Boylen said with a sigh. "We have to get the rebound. You have to get those loose ball rebounds when you have to close somebody out at the end of the game. I give him credit for making those shots."

For the Bulls, sadly enough, still just good enough to dream.

bulls-fall-in-ot-after-close-fought-game-in-miami

Bulls Fall In OT After Close Fought Game In Miami

Three inches. That’s about the length of a toilet paper holder. And the distance between what could have been the Bulls first three-game winning streak in almost a year and the queasy feeling when Zach LaVine’s three-point attempt bounced just long with two seconds left and the Bulls Friday lost 100-98 to the Golden State Warriors.

“I thought it was a good shot and I’ll take it again next time. I think I’ll make it, too,” said LaVine, who led the Bulls with 22 points, six rebounds and a team high six assists. "I had a good look. Hit the back of the rim; I thought it was good.”

It’s just that much sometimes in basketball that separates celebration from nausea. It was a noxious moment for the Bulls, who seeming were ready to turn another corner and instead found that it led smack into a brick wall.

“We had the momentum,” LaVine lamented. “I think we played a pretty good game, but we let them back into the game. They started making plays in the fourth quarter. They played that alley oop play they do all the time. They got some stops and made some shots. Give them credit for that. But we beat ourselves. We have to make more plays down the stretch to where we don’t have to have it on a last second shot.”

Lauri Markkanen added 20 points, though just three after halftime and Coby White had 14 points in one of his hot streaks, making four of five threes. He sat out the last eight minutes, which was one among many debatable points about the game’s close that became significant only because the last shot was fractions long.

Bulls coach Jim Boylen brought back his starters to close the game, which was appropriate and often called for earlier in the season. Plus, White had the poorest plus/minus for the game at minus-10. All the starters were even or plus and all the regular reserves were minus. Denzel Valentine had another good scoring game after being rescued from his purgatory with 11 points in 13 minutes. He was curiously enmeshed in verbal histrionics all game with Warriors players, eventually ejected with a second technical foul in the fourth quarter. Valentine said it was his first ejection in his sporting life including little league and high school.

The Bulls fell to 8-15 while the Warriors salvaged one win on their five-game road trip, moving to 5-19. Two of the wins have been against the Bulls. The Warriors had lost the previous four road games by an average of 15 points per game.

“We talked about getting the last spurt and controlling the end of the game,” said Boylen. “We just didn’t quite get to the free throw line enough (five attempts for the game) and didn’t make enough shots. It was a very physical game and they made a couple of more plays than we did. We’re disappointed we lost this game, all of us. We don’t like losing. But my job is to keep this going in the right direction. I feel we’re growing and we’re developing.”

This one, as too many already have, hurt as the vastly depleted Warriors with pretty much no one you probably have heard of other than Draymond Green came into the game with the poorest record in the NBA. The Knicks Friday fired their coach having a slightly better record. Steve Kerr appears safe for now.

It also was a game the Bulls pretty much controlled, seemingly cruising along and just waiting to hit the gas. Until the engine quit. The Bulls led 28-23 after one quarter with White finding the range to score eight straight to close the first.

“We have to figure out how to put teams away, put that nail in the coffin, finish the game out,” said White. “It’s a learning process.”

But who’s idea was it to extend the hours of this school?

The reserves fumbled a bit to start the second quarter, though Valentine was all heart. He had a clever behind the back pass to Markkanen that led to a Daniel Gafford dunk, got the ball moving well and his mouth even better. At one point, Golden State’s Omari Spellman had to be held back from him with Valentine smiling and shrugging.

“This is what I love to do,” said Valentine. “It was taken away from me for a year (with injury), so I’m playing with passion. I just do what I can do to help the team, play hard, play with passion and on both sides of the ball. It was just some friendly trash talk.”

With LaVine scoring his first points late in the second quarter, the Bulls regained the lead 51-50 at halftime. Kris Dunn was fist pumping on a LaVine three, and it just seemed a matter of time before the Bulls pulled away for, finally, a real winning streak.

It was LaVine taking over to begin the second half, fast break, pull up jumper, and a pair of long threes, 15 third quarter points in all with White closing. White led Gafford with a perfect two-man roll for slam dunk, Ryan Arcidiacono made a three and Valentine made a floater and set up White for a three. The Bulls led 83-76 going into the fourth quarter even with Thaddeus Young away for a game for personal reasons and Otto Porter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison still out injured.

The Bulls still were holding onto a 92-87 lead on another Valentine three when Boylen went back to the starters except for Wendell Carter Jr. with 8:32 left in the game. But the Bulls had too long played it a bit too cute and a bit too cautious, and now the Warriors seemed to believe they had a chance.

Green drove the ball to tie the score at 92 after misses by Tomas Satoransky, Dunn, LaVine and a Gafford offensive foul; it was game on. Markkanen made his only basket of the second half with 3:36 to tie the game at 97. It came after the play that would haunt the Bulls.

Many NBA teams, including the Bulls, have streamlined their offenses in this three-point emphasis era to run a pick and roll near the middle of the floor with three players behind the three-point line waiting for a pass or to reposition. It’s not particularly creative, though if you have really good shooters you can score a lot of points. They do still add all the points.

The Bulls defensive game plan this season has frequently focused on double teaming the pick and roll with two players trapping the ball handler. The positive is it’s led to the Bulls leading the league in forcing turnovers. And again Friday the Bulls had 11 steals and forced 20 turnovers. The weakness is teams often have countered after halftime by having a playmaker as a screener. So he rolls to the free throw line and can make a play if he’s deft with the ball. Sometimes the Bulls drop off to switching when that occurs. This time they would stay with the trap.

The Warriors had taken that 97-94 lead before Markkanen’s three on that very play with Green lobbing  to Willie Cauley-Stein for a dunk. The Bulls have not been able to rotate well enough yet when teams break that trap.

A bit more Bulls offensive efficiency would have cancelled the late game second guessing. But Dunn missed on a drive, Markkanen committed a travel trying to pass after a drive and then had to force a  three as time was expiring. Now it was under two minutes left, and then anyone can make a play and win a game. Home court doesn’t mean much then.

Green appeared to flop out of a screen as the Bulls collapsed on D’Angelo Russell and Green got the call. He made one of two free throws with 1:26 left for a 98-97 Warriors lead. LaVine got weary of watching everyone else miss and responded, going all the way and was fouled. But he only made one of two, a rarity for him, to tie with 1:18 left.

Then came what would be the winning basket, though with 1:03 left, when the Bulls elected to trap Russell again. He slipped the ball to Green, who took a dribble into the lane to draw LaVine and lobbed to Glenn Robinson III for the two-hand slam and 100-98 Warriors lead with 1:03 left.

“That’s what we felt was the best situation for us, to get the ball out of D-Lo’s hands and make somebody else make a play,” Boylen explained.

LaVine got in good position, but missed a step back 15 footer with 47 seconds left. The Warriors got two shots at a three with an offensive rebound, but Russell coming back from injury missed both. The Bulls blitzed on the first miss, but not the second.

Russell’s second missed with 22.9 seconds left. LaVine rebounded and began dribbling up court. He dribbled past half court and Carter came to set a screen. LaVine waved off Carter and seemed about ready to drive when Boylen bolted onto the court to call a timeout with 13 seconds left and the Bulls trailing by two.

White came back into the game and a play was set up for LaVine, who had saved the last three wins dating back to his spectacular three pointer in Charlotte.

“I liked the fact that the ball is in Zach’s hands,” said Boylen. “I believe in Zach at the end of the game. We wanted to see how they were going to match up. We did not want Draymond Green in the pick and roll. We'll take Zach in that situation.”

&lt;p?The conventional wisdom in the NBA is you go for the tie at home and the win on the road, which would presumably mean a drive by LaVine. Perhaps a foul. Maybe then try for a steal. LaVine was thinking win.

“I’ve had games where I’ve gone to the hoop, got fouled and scored a two and we tied it up and we went up to win or we went on to lose,” said LaVine.

Overtime is no guarantee, but the consensus often is the home team has the advantage.

Carter again went to screen with Green on him. Green is generally regarded as one of the league’s best defenders, though he has been injured this season and often playing limited minutes. He hasn’t moved as well defensively, and Markkanen was scoring well on him earlier. When Green switched onto Carter, LaVine waved off the screen. But LaVine also began walking up with a dribble, running down the clock.

“The timing of it maybe could be better,” Boylen said. “But it's a rhythm thing. It's how you feel; he's done as good job of that and I believe in him in that situation. He can make that shot. His (efficiency) on that shot is as good as anybody in the league.”

LaVine turned left past Robinson toward the wing. LaVine got to the three-point line and put on the breaks, pulling up for a clear three to win the game with three seconds left.

The ball hit the right side of the back of the rim long and bounced high. It got tipped to Green as the game ended.

The Bulls had been swept by the Warriors again as Robinson led with 20 points, Alec Burks had 14, Eric Paschell 13 and Cauley-Stein had 10. The Warriors shot 53.5 percent overall and outrebounded the Bulls 39-37. There were 11 lead changes and 10 ties. And a long discussion  about the last few minutes.

“I didn’t want to give them another possession,” LaVine explained. “I was either going to take it to the hoop, try to get fouled, obviously go for the game. Draymond kept switching on and off. Draymond was being that guy to switch, but I didn’t want to deal with him in the pick and roll. So I rejected it. I looked at the clock. I think it was three seconds.

“Some of those shots I felt were good shots we usually make; if we make them it’s a totally different game. But that’s what you can always say. We have to get more stops,” said LaVine. “They outscored us in the fourth. I just wish I made it.”

bulls-fall-100-98-to-warriors-in-heartbreaker

Bulls fall 100-98 to Warriors in heartbreaker

After Bulls built a 22 point lead, the Grizzlies came back to within 1 with 4:27 left. Then Zach turned it on, with 7 points, and assisting the other 6, to secure the win for the Bulls.

Often fans and sometimes even the Bulls get too caught up in what—or who—Zach LaVine is not, namely Michael Jordan or Derrick Rose or even Chet Walker. Instead of appreciating who and what Zach LaVine is, namely one of the elite offensive players and clutch shooters in the NBA, the player who basically is saving this Bulls season with yet another combination CPR/Heimlich Wednesday in the Bulls 106-99 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Having watched—literally, the way Bulls stood around and let Jonas Valanciunas back down Wendell Carter Jr. with seemingly little but admiring applause — the depleted Grizzlies come back from a 22-point deficit to trail 88-87 with 4:27 left in the game, the Bulls turned their desperate eyes to Zach.

"Let's get it done," LaVine instructed wary and perhaps worried teammates in the timeout. "Coach drew a play up; I told him where I wanted it."

That was near mid court by the red tip of the angry Bull logo on the United Center floor. Zach's snarl was as menacing. Carter offered a brush screen that LaVine barely needed to turn right and gracefully arc a 27 footer that met mesh for a 91-87 Bulls lead. It would be the start of a magical two and a half minutes during which LaVine would score seven points and assist on the six others, threes by Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn.

And then it was 101-90 with 1:44 left and the game was safe, the Bulls first winning streak of the season as they inched up to 8-14. Memphis is 6-15.

LaVine hits 25 Points against the Grizzlies

"We gave up our lead again," noticed LaVine. "But just like we did in Sacramento, we made big plays down the stretch, kept our compose."

And realized just whom they had and whom they needed.

Zach isn't one of those historic Bulls legends, certainly not yet. He's not Kawhi or Giannis or LeBron, either. But he's special, and without LaVine the Bulls instead of starting to see some hope from their Eastern Conference depression might be working on their seventh straight loss and 10th in the last 11 to fade from view even before Christmas. But averaging more than 30 points the last two weeks, LaVine saved a sure loss in Charlotte with his 49 points and career winning three-point miracle, cashed in a pair of threes in the last six minutes Monday in Sacramento and a team high 10 fourth quarter points to avoid defeat when the Kings crashed a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to a basket. And Wednesday back home after the 1-2 trip, it was LaVine with 25 points on just 13 field goals with six rebounds and three assists.

He's 15th in the NBA in scoring despite averaging the fewest fields goal attempts per game of the top 15 scorers and with only two of those top 15 players averaging fewer minutes per game. LaVine is one of 10 players in the NBA averaging at least 22.5 points, four rebounds and four assists, with LaVine just fractionally below four assists. He's shooting almost 42 percent on threes and leads the Bulls by almost 10 points per game in scoring, is second in assists and leads among guards in rebounding. He never sits out games like some of the game's top stars, and he never walks away from a big moment.

"When it gets down to the nitty gritty, I've got to put my hard hat on and make some plays," said LaVine.

LaVine also is one of the more popular teammates and always is quick to spread credit.

"It's not just me," he added. "I made two clutch ones, threw one to KD and he made a big one. Lauri made a big one as well. I started it off and we closed it out. It's the way I see myself playing. I don't put all this hard work in to just be a regular dude. I expect myself to do this and even more and whatever I have to do to contribute to winning, whether that's 10 points or 40, I'm going to go out and do the best I can. I'm in good place now and I'm going to try to stay in it."

It hasn't been, as we know, such a great place for the Bulls this season. Though there has been more pulse lately. It can be faint at times in the fourth quarters, as it seemed again Wednesday. And it can make you feel like fainting. But the Bulls might finally be putting away the defibrillators.

There may be a beating heart there on its own after all.

Markkanen had 15 points with four of eight threes, and perhaps the Bulls could have recognized him more frequently when Markkanen made two threes in the first two minutes as the Bulls took a 13-2 lead and would be ahead 27-20 after one quarter.

Wendell Carter Jr. banged his way to 16 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, and Daniel Gafford off the bench also had four blocks. The reserves maintained their defensive identity with a fierce showing in the second quarter that kept the Bulls ahead 50-35 at halftime. The Grizzlies without star rookie Ja Morant, rookie Brandon Clarke, and most everyone else we saw wearing their uniform the last decade were led by Valanciunas with 32 points. Grayson Allen added 12 points, though no one boos him anymore for feeling sorry he's in Memphis.

Tomas Satoransky had 13 points and eight assists, including eight fourth quarter points as he finally seemed to realize not everyone wanted to shoot in the fourth quarter. It was Satoransky's sixth straight game scoring in double figures after having four such games in the first 16. Enough of being the polite guest.

"Obviously I am one of those guys who try to fit in, but not very aggressively," Satoransky admitted. "I try to read the situation, try to read my teammates. I was always one of those players who try to make them feel comfortable around me. There's also (been) recognition I have to be more aggressive, especially late in the game. I haven't been shooting it well, but it still opens up spacing when we don't have to just rely on Zach or Lauri."

Satoransky is a true pro who though three of 10 then began to drive and ended up making seven of nine free throws. Dunn added 10 points and made two of four threes and Denzel Valentine continued to produce in limited playing time off the bench with eight points in 15 minutes.

"Everyone was confident," insisted LaVine, which was a good thing because the arena murmur didn't suggest certainty. "We didn't have any doubts (about winning). That was a good thing because we haven't felt that energy. The vibe in the gym wasn't very high and I felt like it was a slow paced game. But when it came down to crunch time, we were ready to get it done; time to put it away and do our jobs."

As LaVine often notes, regrettably, it hasn't been often for him with rebuilding Minnesota and Bulls teams. It's thus marked Zach by the uninitiated and generally unaware as a player with whom you cannot win. You know, like Michael Jordan.

No, Zach's no Michael. Never will be. There is no next, remember? But that was conventional wisdom about Jordan with the Bulls in the mid-1980s: He'll score a lot of points, and then you get swept, like his teams were in going 1-9 in his first three years in the playoffs. Of course, LaVine never will be the defensive player Jordan was. Jordan back then often was thought of as as a flashier version of Purvis Short and Mike Mitchell, players who might get you 50. And then plenty of time to watch Magic and Larry in May and June.

Then the Bulls added defensive stars and a sidekick who would go on to the Hall of Fame, and the individual brilliance morphed into legendary status. Probably even LaVine's greatest admirers aren't suggesting that. Though perhaps no player in NBA history seems to have his shots micromanaged by the public more than LaVine.

Heck, his shot selection many times would look like a trading video compared to James Harden. He'd be the cautious Steve Kerr or John Paxson compared with Russell Westbrook and Donovan Mitchell. After watching Buddy Hield Monday shoot from Rancho Cordova, you understand why the Kings were trying to sign LaVine. But you often can't produce greatness without some risks and curious judgments. Daring ones will draw to inside straights.

LaVine is imperfect enough, occasionally doing some bird watching on back cuts and sometimes thinking the basketball is about five inches across instead of about 10 with some of the passes he tries to fit between forests of limbs.

But with another here-we-go-again Bulls fourth quarter with the whoever they were Grizzlies reducing a 14-point Bulls lead to one, the coach pacing, the fans sighing, Dashing Donut having endured defeat yet again, Zach said he's got this.

"Teams are going to make runs," acknowledged LaVine.

"We didn't do a good job of keeping them down by 20," said LaVine. "At some point teams are going to give up at that point, but we gave them life again. You just know the moment. When opportunity knocks you have to open the door. You have to at least have the courage to step up to it and I'm not scared to take or miss any shot. I take that on myself and I expect myself to make those kinds of plays.

"I made plays before," added LaVine. "I made a lot of plays last year and even my first year here. So I don't know why they switched up (rotations earlier this season). But I'm going to continue to make the plays out there when my number is called. I just step up to the plate. I'm going to go down swinging. I'm not going to go down looking at three strikes. I understand the moment and I know you have to go out and make a play."

Zach perhaps isn't as great with his metaphors, but he's been busy lately trying to save a season.

Sam Smith; Game Recap

Bulls Beat Spurs on Back of Strong Fourth Quarter

Bulls Fall to Kings

Zach To The Rescue As Bulls Grab Win Over Cavs

Bulls Fall In OT After Close Fought Game In Miami

Bulls fall 100-98 to Warriors in heartbreaker

Bulls Beat Grizzlies 106-99

A Tale Of Two Halves As Bulls Shine then Fall to Lakers

Bulls Fall in Cleveland 117-111