Sam Smith Game Recaps

Bulls.com

The 1-2 scoring punch of Zach LaVine and Coby White was on display for the second game in a row as the Bulls won their second straight preseason game with a 124-103 win over Oklahoma City.

Everyone knows a team needs more than one star to become elite. The Bulls the last few seasons have had one, Zach LaVine, and we know with some other complications where that generally leads. But when you have two, oh say, like Isiah and Joe D, KC and Sam, Frazier and Barnett, Gus and DJ, Cheeks and Toney, and, of course, Steph and Klay, well then you're talking. And winning.

Zach and Coby may be breaking into the conversation.

The Bulls Band of Backcourt Brothers were brilliant again Wednesday as the Bulls defeated the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder 124-103 for a 2-1 preseason record. The Bulls play a final preseason game in Oklahoma City Friday and then open their 2020-21 regular season Dec. 23 in the United Center against the Atlanta Hawks.

Which will be a fitting test to begin the season against an Atlanta team that had one of the biggest offseasons with the additions of Kris Dunn, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, Tony Snell and Rajon Rondo to join another All-Star guard Trae Young. Are they ready for the Bulls' Slash Brothers?

"I think we could be really good," White said after the game via video. "We've got a lot of talent, so I think we could be really good as a backcourt. But also, we've just got to keep getting better. This is our first time really getting a chance to play together (first starts together). We're still learning each other and trying to feel each other out."

It looks (and feels) very good as White had 18 of his game high 27 points in the third quarter when the Bulls broke away following LaVine's graceful and fluid 20 first half points among his smooth 24 points. The tag team combination led a dominant effort against an admittedly weak Thunder team. After the results of recent seasons, the Bulls cannot diminish any opponents. But with White breaking through only late last season just before the virus closure, this has been the first time the two high scorers have been able to work together.

It's been thrilling to see with both dominating the Bulls offense, White averaging 20.7 points and 58 percent three point shooting in 27.6 minutes per game and LaVine averaging 19.7 points and 47 percent three-point shooting in 25 minutes per game. Though Bulls coach Billy Donovan continues to emphasize the total team concept and Wednesday praised White for his first half playmaking and LaVine for his offense within the system, both have stood far above their teammates in the willingness and ability to score and activate the offense.

The Bulls got another good game from rookie Patrick Williams, who drew his first start as Donovan said he was experimenting with combinations. Williams scored in double figures for the third straight game with 13, but again did most of his scoring in the second half when he wasn't playing with the regulars. While talented and with a surprisingly mature game, he tends to defer offensively.

Both Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter again were erratic offensively. Markkanen shot four of 15 and two of nine on threes. He's 10-33 in the three games and five of 19 on threes, though he played more ambitiously Wednesday with several drives to the basket and dunk attempts. Markkanen had 11 points and took some turns playing center. Carter had six points and missed his trio of threes, now one of 12 in the three games on three pointers. After missing those first three, Carter turned down three open such attempts to pass the ball. He did his scoring diving to the basket.

Otto Porter Jr. coming off the bench moved fluidly and had eight points and a team high 12 rebounds. Chandler Hutchison with several driving dunks added 11 points. The Bulls shot 54 percent, many from mid range as they were 11 of 33 on threes. Though the lineups and rotations, conceded Donovan, remained complicated because of the illness/injury absence of potential regulars like Thad Young, Garrett Temple, Denzel Valentine and Tomas Satoransky. It's unclear who will be ready for the opener.

But for the Bulls it was another good warmup, albeit against a roster of players unknown to most other than close family members. The Thunder mostly behind guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stayed close in the first quarter against LaVine's sleek 16 points, trailing 30-26. Veteran Al Horford was effective in the second quarter. The Bulls began dominating in the third quarter with the driving of Markkanen and dunking of Hutchison, leading 59-46 at halftime and by 25 after three with White's big third quarter.

"Zach and Coby shot the ball well," Donovan noted. "I thought we generated a lot of really good, open looks. I think our guys are getting more and more comfortable playing against some other teams with the reads and the cutting and the moving. Coby did a really good job in the first half of just managing the game. And then it broke open for him in the second half. Zach getting 20 in the first half, I think he did it within the framework of what we were trying to do. He's going to be able to do it on his own at times. But we also found him and made the game a little bit easier for him as well."

Though the game never is easy, with LaVine and White scoring that way the game should be a lot more interesting for the Bulls. LaVine, especially, is scoring much easier this season with a sidekick talent like White. Both have the shooting range to open the floor and the drive to get to the basket. Donovan's plan appears to be giving them ample opportunity. They could combine for 50 points per game this season with their abilities.

"I think we can be really good," agreed LaVine, who also made several excellent defensive plays. "Obviously offensively, I think we're very potent. We just have to work on the main thing, (which) is winning games. And then you get the recognition from that. If you don't win, then you're always going to get thrown to the back and not noticed. As long as we contribute to winning, I think we're going to be fine."

Westbrook and Beal, Lowry and VanVleet, Kyrie and Dinwiddie, Kemba and Marcus. Dame and CJ, CP3 and Book, Jamal and Gary Harris. Here come Zach and Coby.

coby-white-leads-bulls-with-27-points-to-second-straight-preseason-win

Coby White leads Bulls with 27 points to second straight preseason win.

Sam Smith

In a battle of two All-Star snubs, Zach LaVine dropped 41 points to Bradley Beal's 30 but it was the Wizards that prevailed to send the Bulls to a 19-36 record heading into the All-Star break.

They have been some of the great moments in sports, the times we all wait for as we're remembering again with the All-Star weekend returning this weekend to Chicago, Michael and Dominique's legendary slam dunk faceoff. It's still discussed 30 years later. Or Russell and Chamberlain, Bird and Magic, Oscar and West, Kobe and LeBron. It's when the game within the game is at its best.

Michael and Isiah, Bird and Dr. J, Frazier and Monroe, Hakeem and David, Ewing and Mourning.

It's not quite there yet, but Zach LaVine with 41 points and Bradley Beal with 30 in Washington's 126-114 victory over the Bulls Tuesday showed why it's worth the price of admission when the teams are battling for ninth place.

It's ultimately about winning, but it's also about the show, and LaVine and Beal showed what being an NBA star is all about.

"I think Zach made his point tonight with 41 points," said Bulls coach Jim Boylen. "The effort he played with. He's a big shot maker. He understands the moment. He's a crunch time guy. (An All-Star is) a guy who you can rely on to bring the game home for you and I thought Zach tried to do that and I thought Beal did, too."

Zach LaVine had his fifth 40-point game of the season with 41 vs. Washington.

It wasn't a particularly good night for the Bulls, whose castle walls of defense were besieged by Beal the conquerer, among others. There was even the Red Sea drive when Davis Bertans late in the fourth quarter from the right wing saw Bulls players open up a lane Moses could have driven his people through. Bertans was looking to shoot, but when everyone got out of the way he trotted in for a slam dunk and the end of a brief Bulls fourth quarter comeback that shaved 15 points off a 21-point deficit.

"We didn't contain the driver very well for three quarters," said Boylen. "I thought the combination of our turnovers (22, 11 in the third quarter when the Bulls fell behind 94-73) and inability to keep the ball in front of us in a one on one situation hurt us. I didn't think we weren't trying. I didn't think that was the issue. We battled. We had some real good open looks in the fourth when it was six, eight; those go down it's probably a different story.

"I didn't think we played as well as we can play," said Boylen. "I didn't think we didn't play hard tonight."

Boylen has been fond of those double negatives lately, which perhaps is appropriate as the Bulls now heading into the All-Star break losing their sixth consecutive game and dropped to 19-36. Washington is just ahead in ninth at 19-33 as the Bulls are four and a half games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Chuck Swirsky with BullsTV recaps tonight's loss to the Washington Wizards

So perhaps the matchup wasn't the most appealing as former Wizard Tomas Satoransky had 19 points and eight assists, Coby White 14 points and seven assists and Thaddeus Young 10 points. Washington rookie Rui Hachimura had 20 points and the Wizards shot 54 percent overall, recorded 28 assists and 62 inside points in a wide open game that often resembled a summer beach game.

Except when Beal with those 30 points and nine assists and LaVine with his 41 points, eight rebounds and four assists and 19 fourth quarter points went at it in the sort of classic duel in the sun of western lore.

"I know Brad; he's an All Star player," said LaVine. "That competition you want to bring your A game because if you don't you're going to get toasted in that game. I always try to step up to the plate when you play against a dude of his caliber; it's going to be a battle. You just have to lock in; he's doing the same. When dudes are at this level they're going to get what they get when they put their minds to it. We just have to buckle in and compete; that's what it is at the end of the day."

Zach LaVine slams it home against Washington.

So it became a treat for the viewers, if not ultimately the Bulls, with LaVine trying to rally the Bulls back from their 18-point deficit to start the fourth quarter and Beal doing what he could to hold him off. Neither was voted an Eastern Conference All-Star this season, though both continue to play at an extraordinary high level. Is it their fault their teams are decimated by injury and for the Wizards also in rebuilding mode?

Isn't competing and performing at an extraordinary level when it's unexpected and often unappreciated perhaps more difficult?

And suddenly a Wizards rout — much like the last time the Bulls were in Washington and overcame an 18-point deficit to eventually win in overtime — became almost a deja vu all over again.

Give the Bulls that. They rarely give up in these sorts of games no matter how badly they are playing or what events are transpiring against them.

"I thought that second group in the fourth gave us a lift," said Boylen.

The Bulls got the deficit within 11 when the cavalry returned with LaVine leading the charge.

"I thought that was the chance to come back if I started rallying and put something together," said LaVine.

Tomas Satoransky flies in for a dunk against his former team.

LaVine made a pull up three and suddenly the Washington impasse looked like the Senate in session; nothing was being accomplished locally. It was 103-95 with 7:16 left and Washington was paralyzed. Piling up turnovers like they were a bakery at dawn, the Wizards committed their sixth turnover of the quarter. Satoransky seems especially motivated against his former team, earlier in a 69-62 Wizards first half with a driving power dunk with emphasis. But at that pivotal point, Satoransky missed two straight shots, the second a wide open corner three as the Wizards idea of closing on shooters resembles bidding adieu to an ocean liner.

"I was frustrated by that because it was an easy shot and I felt good in the game and if you have the shot you can change the momentum," Satoransky agreed. "Unfortunately, it didn't go in."

But the Bulls broke down on defense again, losing a pair of defensive rebounds that led to a Beal tip in. It was Wizards by 10 with 5:29 left.

Out of a Bulls timeout it was LaVine with a pullup three. Then it was Beal with a two for response. Young matched a pair of Hachimura free throws with a driving score and then came that miracle parting of the Bulls shores. Still 11 down with 4:06 left. Don't tell Zach it's too late.

LaVine made a three, and then a drive. Beal answered. The Wizards inched up defensively on him. Zach stepped way back and made yet another three and home fans murmured more with disbelief than fear of defeat. Finally Ish Smith added a three with 100 seconds left and there just wasn't enough time even as Zach went past 40 points with yet another three, even farther out, higher and longer and just as sure.

LaVine now heads for the All-Star weekend three point contest Saturday. Having made eight of 11 threes Tuesday with defenders waving and running at him, you'd think he's probably ready.

"I'm looking forward to it," said LaVine, who was asked about being known as an All-Star dunker. "If people think I'm (just) a high flier they're just a casual NBA fan; check their phones. It's (shooting contest) something I haven't done before. It's going to be fun and I think I have a shot to win."

It doesn't look promising, but the Bulls still do have a shot. Geography helps. Otto Porter Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. are expected to return from injuries in a few weeks. There are 27 games remaining. It just takes one streak, as they've mentioned for some four months.

"Make sure everybody's mind is at the right spot," said LaVine about the rest of the story. "We're not on vacation yet. We still have to try to (get in the) hunt and make a goal for ourselves and go there out and play each game. I know I'll be ready and I'll bring it and I hope everybody else will, too."

zach-lavine-dazzles-with-fifth-40-point-game-this-season-as-bulls-fall-to-wizards

Zach LaVine dazzles with fifth 40-point game this season as Bulls fall to Wizards

Despite being a game-time decision with a sore neck, Zach LaVine displayed toughness with a 32 point performance on over 50% shooting in a 118-111 loss to the 76ers.

It wasn't exactly a profile in courage Sunday evening in Philadelphia. After all, it was just a basketball game, and one the Bulls lost 118-111 to the Philadelphia 76ers, the team's fifth consecutive loss in dropping to a season worst 16 games under .500 at 19-35.

But in choosing to play despite a painful neck injury, Zach LaVine with a team high 32 points and eight assists forced the heavily favored 76ers to barely escape down the stretch and perhaps more so demonstrated the tenacity and strength of character not only so rare in the NBA these days but a hopeful sign for the Bulls future in this bleak time.

Zach LaVine scores 32 points on Sunday night despite a sore neck.

"I train for this," LaVine said, peeling off the kinesiology tape that decorate players' wounds these days. "My body is OK. I feel I'm the type of dude who can deal with it. I'm going to go out there and fight for my team. I don't care if it's one versus 100, I'm going to go out there swingin', get my punches in. That's why I wanted to play through this injury. To let them know I'm not just going to go out there and not help.

"I don't like missing games," said LaVine, who with Tomas Satoransky has started every game this season. "Since I hurt myself and had to miss all those games (ACL tear in 2017), it takes a toll in you. I love basketball. I'm going to go out there and play if I can."

Which despite the staggering toll of losses this season, at least continues to keep the Bulls competitive. After falling behind by 15 points in the second quarter, the Bulls surged to several third quarter leads that brought home court boos and anxiety and an 83 tie after three. The 76ers led by Joel Embiid with 28 points and 12 rebounds—offset by 38 points and nine rebounds by the Bulls center tandem of Luke Kornet and Cristiano Felicio—and shooter Furkan Korkmaz off the bench with 31 points, scored on their first 11 possessions of the fourth quarter.

But like the relentless posse, the Bulls still were chasing and were within 114-109 with just under a minute left when Embiid, as the shot clock was about to expire, made a long three pointer to secure the win for the shaky 76ers, now 33-21.

"Probably was the shot we'd like him to take and he makes it," Bulls coach Jim Boylen said with a sigh.

It's the kind of thing that happens in seasons like this.

Chuck Swirsky with BullsTV recaps tonight's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers

Though the play and belief of LaVine is not lost on his teammates even if it ends in defeat more often than they'd like. There's just not enough around with the injuries to Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. So no one would have blamed LaVine if he sat out his first game of the season, aching since suffering a shoulder injury in the Friday loss to the Pelicans. The Bulls listed LaVine questionable for Sunday's game, which few believed the Bulls even had a chance with the 76ers finally healthy and having added players in trade.

"Before I got a couple of massages I was, ‘Ah, I don't know about this,'" LaVine said. "I was moving like a robot."

So with the Bulls cancelling their morning shootaround practice with so many injuries, LaVine went to the arena Sunday morning with assistant coach Shawn Respert.

"He was the only guy that went over and shot and he got himself ready to play," said Boylen.

LaVine said he took about 200 jumpers to loosen up and be reassured he'd be able to play. "If I could take 200 I'll be all right in the game to take 20," LaVine said.

And then he played a game high 40 minutes, in one third quarter stretch when the Bulls surged into the lead either scoring or assisting on 25 straight points. LaVine is averaging 37 minutes per game the last seven games.

"We rely on his scoring every night," said Satoransky. "He feels comfortable in this position; that's what he wants. He wants to be the franchise player. Obviously, he's been doing it. He deserved to be in the All-Star game, especially the way he carries our team offensively and we've just got to help put him in easy spots sometime. He wants always the tough points and he's been doing that. All the focus of defense is on him and sometimes we struggle trying to find the different options when defenses are over him

"I think it shows a lot about his character," Satoransky continued. "We talked about it before the game because he two days ago wasn't sure he was going to play. I am still a believer. I believe we still can make a good push to try to make the playoffs. It shows that he is thinking every game is important and he just wants to do everything possible to get another win. Also it's motivation when you see your best player do that and I think it helps also the young guys, which we have a lot. They'll see someone as an example who plays through injury and is out there competing; that is great for this team."

Which is a substantial reason even beyond his 25 points per game average and routinely against defenses loaded toward him that LaVine's omission from Sunday's All-Star game in Chicago is a travesty. Not because this is the Bulls web site, but because the NBA is facing an existential problem. Its best players often simply don't want to play. Look even at the All-Stars. There haven't been serious injuries, but Embiid, Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry have missed double digit games. Everyone but Bam Adebayo has missed multiple games for often curious reasons. Sure, it's a long season and the playoffs are vital. But don't they owe the community something, the game? Since when is not showing up worthy of applause?

"Zach's a G," said 13-year veteran Thaddeus Young. "He's one of the realest ever as far as just dealing with him. He understands we're down right now, down some guys and he's going to have to be there for his guys. He's our leader. In order for us to have a chance to win a game, he has to play. He told me before the game, ‘I'm not gonna leave y'all hangin; I'm gonna be there for you.' I already knew that. I knew he was going to come to this game and get himself ready as much as possible and be ready to play. He's definitely a G. He's going to go out there and continue to fight for us just like we are fighting for him."

"He's gangsta," explained Young. "Tough; he's got the gangsta in him."

It was explained to me that's a good thing.

Not that LaVine was perfect Sunday, committing nine turnovers in a face-off with Ben Simmons, who had a triple double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and seven turnovers. The difference was that pretty much everywhere LaVine went, 76ers players were chasing him like he stole the Cheez-Whiz from the cheesesteak stand.

"It was a big play when we were down by (five) and Embiid hit that three," LaVine agreed. "We come down, turn it over. I had a couple of bonehead turnovers trying to make plays. We fought with them and that's all you can ask for, to make it a game down the stretch. We're still battling."

There's just not enough there, though the Bulls got some surprising contributions as Kornet had a career high 25 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter comeback, and Felicio continued to be productive, especially on the offensive boards and had 13 points and seven rebounds as the pair held off the powerful Embiid.

Luke Kornet dunks the ball for two of his career high 25 points

"Luke's getting better," said Boylen. "He's kind of who we thought he could be. He can roll and he can pop. He's a good passer. He can play in the pocket and on the perimeter. I think the center position played well tonight."

LaVine also applauded the work of the off-maligned Felicio.

"Felicio is probably one of the best screeners in the NBA just for his size," LaVine said. "I love him out there. I normally get open (shots). In the pocket he's catching it and making his plays. He played well."

Young had a double/double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Satoransky had 10 points and seven assists as the Bulls play in Washington Tuesday in their last game before the All-Star break. But without Dunn and Carter, the defense continues to ail as the 76ers rolled to a 38-25 first quarter lead and 42-27 early in the second quarter as the expected non compete clause seemed in effect. But LaVine got going and added a few nice two-man plays with Felicio to close the first half and then went all-Zach in the third quarter, a 10-2 Bulls start and a LaVine three jamboree of five three pointers, each one more difficult than the previous as the edgy home fans unleashed two rounds of booing.

"I thought we battled," said Boylen. "We played hard and played together and got a lot from a lot of guys. I liked our spirit and togetherness. I thought they made a few more shots. Got the ball to Embiid deep. We weren't going to double him. I thought our game plan was solid; make him play a two-point (shooting) game. It's 83-83 to start the fourth; we're right there."

Zach LaVine goes up for a bucket against Philadelphia's Ben Simmons &amp; Al Horford

The 76ers finally abandoned their me, me, me perimeter game and scored 16 of their first 18 fourth quarter points on dunks and layups, forcing their way inside behind Embiid, cutting and darting until a Tobias Harris three with 6:25 left seemed to give them room with a nine-point lead. The 76ers got it to 11 with 3:27 left before the Bulls made one more run that Embiid held off with that three just after the 76ers got a favorable review on what seemed like a sixth straight turnover.

LaVine warmed up some for the three-point contest as sadly the Bulls lone All-Star weekend representative making five of 10. Ever ready; an energizer.

"I missed enough games in my career," said LaVine. "If I'm injured, I'm injured. I'm not going to out (and harm) myself or my team. But if I can go out there and help and I know what I can do, I'm going to be out there. I'm not going to take games off."

What a novel approach in this NBA. That's really what Be like Mike is about.

zach-lavine-scores-32-despite-sore-neck-in-bulls-sunday-night-loss-to-76ers

Zach LaVine scores 32 despite sore neck in Bulls' Sunday night loss to 76ers

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