Sam Smith recap

Ryan Arcidiacono was told to go to Europe. And not necessarily for the famous architecture and the coq au vin. The spunky guard from Villanova’s NCAA title winning team wasn’t drafted by an NBA team. Too slow, too small, they told him. Not for you, kid. Try the continent. Arcidiacono almost did, signing with an Italian league team. But details changed. So he returned to those coach class airplane rides and budget hotels for two years in the NBA’s G-league. Arcidiacono refused to give in, and Saturday he helped the Bulls pull out a welcoming 97-85 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Which was vital because perhaps now more than ever the Bulls especially need guys who don’t give up.

“Arch is going to battle anyone who is in front of him,” said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. “It doesn’t matter who it is. That’s what we love about him; and then to go out there and hit those (fourth quarter) shots when we really needed them and nobody else was hitting them.”

Those shots were a three and a smooth jumper early in the fourth quarter after the Hawks were clawing within 72-68. Arcidiacono’s three started an 8-2 run that gave the Bulls their first double digit lead of the game on the way to maintaining and eventually extending the lead.

Arcidiacono added a vital assist on a Justin Holiday three shortly thereafter when Atlanta got within two points. And then Jabari Parker made it easier with a pair of three pointers.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 27 points and 11 rebounds, though also nine turnovers as he was double and triple teamed and ruthlessly trapped all game as the Hawks identified him as the Bulls primary threat. They checked some box scores, too. Parker with a bounce back all around game had 18 points and eight rebounds with three of six threes. Wendell Carter Jr, playing in his hometown, had his first double/double with a career high 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Arcidiacono had a career high 13 points.

Arcidiacono closed the game playing the entire fourth quarter as Hoiberg also went with a rejuvenated Cristiano Felicio for the fourth quarter. Felicio had just two points, but eight rebounds and a team best plus-20 replacing Robin Lopez.

Led by Arcidiacono and with their own aggressive trap, the Bulls were the first team this season to thwart rookie Trae Young, who came into the game averaging 21.5 points and shooting 39 percent on threes. Much maligned for team defense, especially in Friday’s loss to the Hornets, the Bulls held Young to 13 points on three of 12 shooting and zero for six on threes.

“Just tried to make him take tough ones and get him to inside the paint and try to finish over our bigs,” said Arcidiacono. “I’m just trying to be aggressive. I know that I’m not a proven player in this league, but I know that I can shoot it. So I’m going to shoot it with confidence.”

Arcidiacono has been somewhat hesitant offensively despite a pure shooting stroke, apparently trying to quietly fit in and earn a role in the NBA. But this glut of injuries that has put this Bulls season in jeopardy also provides opportunity. Next man up, and all that. It’s not much a formula for sustained success. But it is an opportunity to see players like the 6-2 Arcidiacono who often are arbitrarily dismissed because they don’t measure up to the game’s physical requirements and analytics. Which, as we know, don’t measure that axiom about heart.

It’s something of a shorthand for competitive edge, which the Bulls desperately need now, and which can make a heck of a feel good story about someone like G-league veteran Arcidiacono.

The Bulls moved to 2-4 with a home game Monday against the Golden State Warriors.

But this was no time for looking ahead as much as appreciating not being bogged down by looking back. It had been a brutally poor defensive and overall effort on Friday night in the 29-point loss to Charlotte.

“They didn’t like how last night went,” noted Hoiberg. “They watched the film session. They were embarrassed and I could see it in their eyes that they were going to come out with a good effort. When the ball was not going in the hoop, we stuck around and stayed with it. It’s been a problem for us the first five games; it affected our defense. Tonight we stayed with it, did a good job with our schemes and I couldn’t be prouder of the way the guys came out and handled that after last night’s game, the type of effort on the defensive end, on the glass, made a lot of hustle plays. Everybody who stepped on the floor, I felt, made a contribution.”

Hoiberg contributed impressively, as well, with multiple adjustments and responses that helped lead to the win over an Atlanta team coming in with back to back wins with a 15-point victory margin.

The Bulls with that varied trap against Young stunted the Hawks offense that had been averaging more than 106 points per game. The defensive pressure thwarted Young, and then when the Hawks pressured LaVine, Hoiberg moved LaVine more toward the middle of the floor as the guard facilitator. That helped defeat the Hawks sideline pressure. LaVine did have those nine turnovers, and Hoiberg joked LaVine was so close to a triple double.

“But Zach, if we can draw two to the ball (with their trap) and make the play and spray out of it, and that’s what I felt Zach did a good job of as he was making the right play,” said Hoiberg. “He found Justin for a couple of those shots. Not only Zach, but I felt Jabari found Arch for a couple of shots as well. Zach stuck with it and made some really solid plays in the fourth quarter.”

Despite the pressure and attention LaVine received as the Bulls obvious main offensive threat, LaVine still nearly had his 30 points by getting to the free throw line 10 times. Two of the most important elements of being a star are performing despite not having a great game, which LaVine did with those 27 points, and being consistent, your team knowing every game no matter what the opposition does you are going to be producing. LaVine has been coming through on both.

“I feel comfortable that I will make the right decision and I trust my teammates,” said LaVine. “I feel like I am going to have to get used to that going forward.”

It also was a high level game for Parker, whom Hoiberg must have advised. Because Parker abandoned his fondness for over dribbling and forcing shots and moved the ball quickly. He was most effective passing and receiving with Arcidiacono and making clutch shots down the stretch, mostly squared up on passes instead of trying off balance, running shots late in the clock.

With Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine and Bobby Portis all out injured, Parker is a vital second scoring option. Hoiberg kept him coming off the bench, which was not fatal as the Bulls again were competitive in the first quarter, trailing just 25-22. But Parker played the entire fourth quarter and a starting level 34 minutes, third most on the team against the Hawks.

“Jabari missed some shots early,” noted Hoiberg about Parker starting zero for four. “He stuck with it as well and hit big ones. Our guys were very resilient tonight and found a way to battle when shots weren’t falling.”

Carter had his best quarter of the season in the first with eight points, twice finishing lobs from Cameron Payne, who was in foul trouble and had just two points. Again, it was difficult getting enough scoring from the starters with Chandler Hutchison scoring four points and missing inside. Hutchison is mesmerizing to watch in the open court with his long strides, but he seems to freeze when he gets to the basket. Though he did have an impressive plus-18 rating.

The teams traded multiple misses in an ugly second quarter in which the Hawks shot 17 percent, but still led 44-41 at halftime. Parker helped get the Bulls close with five straight points late on a sorting dribble drive and pass to LaVine for a three.

LaVine, even with defenders swarming all around him, stung the Hawks with 11 third quarter points and those spinning curls to the basket. Felicio still was reluctant to shoot, but did finish his one score on a quick inside pass from Arcidiacono. Parker and Arcidiacono closed the third quarter assisting one another for scores. That gave the Bulls a 67-63 lead after three.

Then it was the Bulls with the big shots to close, Parker with a pair of threes, LaVine passing to Arcidiacono who quickly passed to Holiday for a three, one of his three in the fourth, and LaVine with a tough, late fading jumper to close it out. The Bulls were seven of 10 on threes in the fourth quarter.

“(We were) upset with the effort that we gave last night,” said LaVine. "It felt good to bounce back and get a win. We played really good defense. We had a really good game plan from the coaches.”

And a nice little story of what you can achieve if you just don’t believe and accept others’  status for you. Perhaps it’s a message for the Bulls, too.

bulls-bounce-back-with-97-85-win-over-hawks

Bulls bounce back with 97-85 win over Hawks

So the Bulls can probably hold off awhile before retiring Wendell Carter Jr’s No. 34.

Carter Sunday in the Bulls 69-60 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Las Vegas Summer League had a modest line of nine points, seven rebounds, four blocks and a precautionary early second half benching after banging knees earlier in the game.

“I’m fine,” Carter assured reporters with a shrug after the game. “I probably was (limping). I bumped knees at some point in the first half, so I probably was limping a little. I tried to not show it; just play through it.”

Carter actually did that, though not quite as impressively as his 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the Game 1 win. He did return late in the second half Sunday to try to rally a Bulls team that began to collapse with his departure. Carter returned and immediately had a pair of blocks and ran off a Lakers dunk attempt before the Lakers pulled away late.

Matt Williams Jr., who played briefly for Miami last season and in the G-league, was the only Bulls player to score in double figures with 12 points. Chandler Hutchison had seven points and eight rebounds, though three of 10 shooting. Antonio Blakeney was two of 15, Ryan Arcidiacono two of nine and Donte Ingram two of seven.

“We didn’t make shots, got beat off the dribble,” said Summer League coach Randy Brown. “They played harder than us; they outplayed us. I have to protect him (Carter). I didn’t think he was running well. He banged knees, but he was fine. It was my call. I told him if he was limping, he was coming out. He said, ‘Coach, I want to play.’ And I (later) granted him his wish.”

But even in a brutally low scoring and erratic offensive game for the team and with his knee jarred, Carter was smooth and reliable again. He was the most active on defense, now with nine blocks in the two games. He shot eight of the Bulls overall 12 free throws, but had just five shots, the fewest of everyone who played more than a minute. That certainly needs to change.

Brown said he would get Carter more opportunities in the post, though Carter is strikingly unselfish and prone to move the ball when necessary. The Bulls trailed 35-29 at halftime, but quickly fell behind by 14 points with Carter watching in the third quarter. When he returned the Bulls made one run to within seven points in the fourth quarter. But another of those 18 turnovers enabled the home team Lakers to pull away.

“I played all right,” Carter said. “But we didn’t win. That’s the main goal and if we didn’t win, I’m not satisfied. I think we were outplayed tonight as a team, not getting back on defense and not rebounding the ball.

“He (Brown) was just looking out for the best for me, going out there and not playing 100 percent and maybe getting hurt even more. I appreciate him looking out for me,” Carter said.

The Bulls next play Tuesday 5 p.m CT against Atlanta and Trae Young on NBA-TV.

It was a tough game for fellow rookie Hutchison, who continually was denied at the rim. He wasn’t able to get the ball in transition much and in the half court he’s not strong enough to finish at the basket yet.

Brown again praised the way the feisty Arcidiacono ran the offense and said he had to play him the most because no one else was nearly as capable. Arcidiacono also led the team with nine rebounds despite being the smallest player on the floor Arcidiacono now has a good opportunity to go beyond his two-way G-league contract and make the Bulls with Jerian Grant traded to Orlando. Loyola’s Ingram appeared a bit more relaxed after opening game jitters and had six rebounds and was two of four on threes. He had the team's only steal.

But even with Carter’s uncertain gait, he was active in weak side defense with his blocks and help that kept the Bulls close early despite the horrid shooting. He took a hard fall early in the second quarter trying to block a shot, but popped up quickly and did finish a sharp pick and roll play with Hutchison. But without Carter after halftime until about nine minutes left, the Bulls could not match the Lakers.

The competitiveness,” Carter said, “has to go up a new notches the next game.”

bulls-fall-to-lakers-in-second-summer-league-game

Bulls fall to Lakers in second Summer League game

There may have been better debuts in a Bulls uniform than Wendell Carter Jr., who Saturday put up 16 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, two steals and hit two of three on 3-pointers in the Bulls 86-81 Summer League victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Bulls management may want to stay in Las Vegas the way they are getting jackpots with 7s, last year with Lauri Markkanen No. 7 in the NBA draft as part of the Jimmy Butler trade, and this year at No. 7 Carter Jr., who was arguably the most impressive rookie player in this opening weekend of the summer games.

“For a 19-year-old kid to play with that poise is mind boggling,” marveled Bulls assistant Randy Brown, who is coaching the summer squad. “The two threes he made were huge and the two-handed rebound he made at the end of the game; haven’t seen anything like that in a long time. The kid is relentless, unselfish; he doesn’t mind moving the ball. Nothing fazes this kid. I told him in the (late game) timeout, ‘Wendell, we need you to get this rebound.’ And he grabs it with two hands in traffic. Something we haven’t had on our team in a long time, a guy who can control the paint like that.”

The soft-spoken Carter was nothing short of a screaming revelation before a full house in the Thomas &amp; Mack Center on the UNLV campus. The sellout crowd hung in after the feature game of the night, the Suns and No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton against the Kings and No. 2 selection Marvin Bagley, Carter Jr’s Duke teammate.

Carter was overshadowed by the springy Bagley in college, accepting the front court support role and enabling Bagley to excel. Carter had been Duke’s top front court recruit, but Bagley reclassified late, casting a bit of a shadow on Carter’s excellence. Carter insisted if it were in the interests of team success, he was all in.

But Carter also promised his game would expand in the NBA, and the first returns were extraordinary.

From winning the opening tip to a quick score on a short jumper to open the game to a pair of stunning blocks early, including one on seven footer Ante Zizic in which Carter caught the ball, to defensive pressures against guards on switches to a specular close after the Bulls in the fourth quarter fell behind with a crucial steal, finishing a pick and roll and a three after tipping an offensive rebound to himself, Carter was the story of the day.

It was one excellent play after the next, Carter’s stoic expression rarely changing as he dove to tie up opponents and then win the jump ball on one end and then was catching neat pocket passes from fellow rookie Chandler Hutchison on the other.

“That dude,” marveled Hutchison, “there’s a reason he’s here and got the recognition he did. He plays really hard. Defensively, I thought he was spectacular. He surprised me on that end; blocking shots, being a force, rebounding the ball.”

Hutchison had his own terrific premier with 13 points and six of eight on free throws as he frequently drove to the basket. He’s still a little weak as a finisher at 6-7 and a bit under 200 pounds. But he is remarkably fluid in the open court, early in the game taking a rebound and driving full court with a curling finish that gave you a Scottie Pippen flashback. Hutchison had just two assists, but more because teammates weren’t ready for his adept passing while flying down the court. Late in the game with Carter aware of how much Hutchison could do with the ball, the two connected on a marvelous pick and roll with Carter scoring on Hutchison’s slick pocket pass.

“We haven’t had a guy like this in a long time, also, who can get out and run,” said Brown. “He’s athletic enough, smart enough, doesn’t take bad shots, is coachable. Doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, plays both ends, doesn’t take plays off.”

The Bulls didn’t much in Saturday’s opener, either.

Antonio Blakeney led the team with 25 points. Backcourt mate Ryan Arcidiacono added 10 points. Bruising Jarnell Stokes off the bench had eight points in 11 minutes. Zizic had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavs and rookie Collin Sexton had 14 points.

Bulls free agent guard Zach LaVine sat courtside for the Sacramento and then Bulls game, the Bulls weighing a Kings restricted free agent offer to LaVine. LaVine wore a white outfit with diamonds.

But the real jewels were Carter and Hutchison.

The Bulls jumped out ahead with Carter’s back to back blocks stunning the crowd. Blakeney was hot scoring and the Bulls led 21-16 after one quarter and 47-39 at halftime. Carter remained in the middle with strong rebounding and a soft face up jump shot.

“I went out there and played my game, not trying to force anything,” said Carter. “People say the first game you’ll be nervous, but I just tried to stay in the middle and have fun. This NBA game, the court is a lot bigger; it’s one on one most of the time. I’m going to be able to showcase a lot more things as I get bigger, stronger, and a better pro.”

Bigger and stronger? Carter already is about 6-10 and 260 pounds and is unusually physical for a teenage player.

Even bigger and stronger, Carter was asked.

The Bulls drifted in the third quarter after taking a 15-point lead with some uncertain play and five turnovers from Blakeney. The Cavs then took a lead early in the fourth quarter. So Brown brought back his starters with Blakeney, Arcidiacono, Carter, Hutchison and Loyola’s Donte Ingram, the latter who had a quiet game with five points and four rebounds.

And though he doesn’t say much, it was a noisy close by Carter. There was that roll and score on a pass from Hutchison on the pick play. Carter then stole an inbounds pass after he was called for a questionable foul. It was a quiet intensity to succeed. Earlier in the game after Zizic drove by Carter on a spin move, Carter came right back with the play of the game, pinning a Zizic layup attempt and catching the ball to start a break.

“I’m always going to make a play if something bad happens,” said Carter. “If it’s making a shot or getting a rebound, the last rebound of the game, I just want to help my team win in whatever way I can. It’s something I’ve been working on, not letting the past affect me, learning from it and moving on.”

There’s the “just Summer League” disclaimer, but here was this kid making every big play. And amidst 15,000 very loud and active fans. Carter tipped a miss to himself for that three, then a tie-up and winning the jump, all crucial plays that enabled the Bulls to get that first win.

Which means a lot less than seeing what this past season and this draft appears to have yielded, two bright, aggressive, talented players who make winning plays.

“I’m all about getting my teammates (involved) out there,” said Carter. “If the ball gets to me in open spots, spots I like to take the shots, I try not to force anything and be a great defender. The blocks? It’s more fight. If you want to do it, you can do it. It’s a will to fight for it.”

The Bulls might have found themselves a winner.

carter-excels-in-bulls-86-81-summer-league-win-over-cleveland

Carter excels in Bulls 86-81 Summer League win over Cleveland

The Bulls Saturday were hoping to show the timbre of their play. But the sound was more like that of a decisive fall. The Bulls in the fourth quarter were cut down amidst a forest of their own mistakes and lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-104.

After leading 62-60 in an impressive first half and trailing by just four points entering the fourth quarter, the Bulls collapsed in an 18-3 Minnesota run that decided the game.

The Bulls dropped to 20-39 while the Timberwolves, playing without the injured Jimmy Butler, moved to 37-26. The Bulls play in Brooklyn Monday and Charlotte Tuesday before returning to the United Center to play Dallas Friday.

"Obviously, we're playing a lot of new guys," said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg about the new starters, Cristiano Felicio and David Nwaba for Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday. "We're having trouble getting organized at both ends. We're not communicating on
  the defensive end and it's costing us. We're not doing a good job rotating over on the baseline when we get beat."

In attempting to further analyze and scrutinize its young players who have not played much this season while trying to compete, the Bulls, especially on defense, have been flummoxed these last two games against the 76ers and Timberwolves in pick and
  roll coverages, and especially when switching, which is the basic element of their defense. Not exactly a fortress on defense, the Bulls had moved up from league worst defense in the first two months to close to the middle.

But they've been a mess and mass of confusion these last two games with Cameron Payne and Noah Vonleh also playing more prominent roles.

The Bulls were led by Zach LaVine in his return to Minnesota with an excellent game. He had 21 points, a team high seven assists and six rebounds. LaVine also was seven of eight on free throws and was dominant in a terrific second quarter (38-29 Bulls)
  when he took over at point guard with Kris Dunn off the ball and had nine points and four assists. That produced a 15-5 Bulls run that gave the Bulls a 48-47 lead after trailing 17-6 to start the game.

"The second quarter was a thing of beauty," said Hoiberg. "The ball was flying up the floor. I loved our competitive spirit to come back and take a lead at the half. He's (LaVine) attacking the basket much better. You can see him getting more comfortable
  and it was terrific to see him as a playmaker tonight."

Dunn didn't fare as well in his return with 10 points on four of 12 shooting with two assists and four turnovers. He and Lauri Markkanen have been loose and erratic since their All-Star weekend participation. Dunn is six for 23 with seven assists and
  five turnovers. Markkanen is two for 16 and zero for seven on threes, though he has tried to push himself through. Markkanen has rebounded well and held Karl-Anthony Towns to 10 points and five of 14 shooting through three quarters.

"Gotta get some extra shots up," said Markkanen. "I see myself thinking too much. It's frustrating to not make shots, but it is what it is. Gotta work through it."

Nwaba had a second excellent game starting, getting 14 points and nine rebounds. His forceful driving and dunking was a big part of that second quarter run. He's 15 for 23 shooting mostly on drives in the two games and leads the team in minutes played.
  Bobby Portis had 15 points, but just four after halftime following his career game Thursday in the one-point loss to the 76ers. Denzel Valentine, Cameron Payne and Felicio each had 11 points. Most of Payne's points came late in the fourth quarter
  after the Bulls fell behind by 20 midway through. Felicio struggled again, particularly on defensive coverages as Jeff Teague with 25 points sliced up the Bulls in pick and roll. Andrew Wiggins had 23 points and Jamal Crawford off the bench added
  19 with a trio of three pointers early in the fourth quarter that broke open the game and sent the Bulls reeling. The Bulls with their new starters once again left the team with a big deficit to open the game. Similarly, the start of the third quarter
  was erratic and again the reserves were better as a group.

"We're gonna get that chemistry down," promised LaVine. "We only had a couple practices with that lineup."

It was the defense most unhinged, especially.

"We have to be committed to coming out and getting stops," said Hoiberg.

It's probably unlikely as long as the Bulls are going to play so many players who have not been in the regular rotation all season.

Defense is a team exercise mastered by repetition; there obviously cannot be much in this stretch with various lineups.

Nwaba impacted the game for the second straight game with his hustle and defense, driving the ball relentlessly and pushing out of the backcourt more vociferously than any of his teammates. Vonleh in just 14 minutes showed a deft three-point shooting
  touch, but especially strong defense rebounding. He had eight points and six rebounds in that limited time. Felicio was five of eight with a pair of blocks, finishing well on some pick and roll plays with LaVine. But Felicio refuses to even attempt
  a jump shot or look at the basket, squeezing the court for teammates. Though Payne did most of his scoring late, he was acceptable in running the offense and through the first half was second in plus/minus rating. His play has been more controlled
  than last year when he came to the Bulls after the trade with Oklahoma City.

The big story in Minneapolis was the absence of Butler, who apparently tore a meniscus in the Timberwolves' Friday loss in Houston. The team then had aircraft problems and didn't arrive back in Minneapolis until late Saturday. Butler then went for the
  MRI, which showed the damage. Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau was typically evasive about Butler's fate. If he has surgery to repair the injury, Butler would miss the rest of the season. There is another procedure that would keep him out about a
  month, but could produce tendinitis problems later. Teammates indicated Butler was promising to return for the playoffs.

"The good news is it's not an ACL," Thibodeau told media before the game. "That was the big concern. That was the positive, so we'll go from there. I think Jimmy's still gathering information. So we'll have more information in terms of course of
  action and how we'll proceed from there.

"I'm not going to elaborate other than we're going to say it's a meniscus injury right now," said Thibodeau.

"You're faced with different challenges all the time and that's the beauty of this league," said Thibodeau. "Whether it's the injuries, the schedule, travel issues, whatever you have, you have to be ready to go. I like our team a lot. If you have injury,
  then a guy has to come in there and get the job done, understand what their job is and go out there and do it. A guy like Jimmy, you don't replace him individually. We have to do that collectively."

Though the Bulls had mixed results from most of their new additions other than Nwaba, it was another excellent game for LaVine against his former team. He was the star back in Chicago earlier this month, scoring the team's last 11 points in the win
  over the Timberwolves.

After the Bulls fell behind quickly and pulled within 31-24 after one quarter, it was LaVine's driving and creative passing that gave the Bulls their best hope of the game. He assisted consecutively on a Dunn three, a Nwaba dunk and a Felicio roll to
  the rim in that 15-5 stretch. The Bulls would shoot 62 percent in that second quarter with six fast break points to none for Minnesota and 10 assists on 15 baskets. But the Bulls would have 11 assists combined in the other three quarters with a mostly
  one pass and a shot offense.

Nwaba and Portis kept the Bulls competitive in the third quarter with an assist from Vonleh. But the start of the fourth was a fatal mess, six of seven misses, a pair of turnovers, a failure to get a pair of defensive boards that resulted in Crawford
  threes. Timber! Wolves were growing and the Bulls couldn't do enough.

bulls-cut-down-by-timberwolves-122-104

Bulls cut down by Timberwolves, 122-104

Taj Gibson said he and Jimmy Butler have been talking about it for weeks, the first return for each to play the Bulls and in Chicago, where they were born and raised as NBA players, where they left but never will forget.

"Weeks prior we've been talking about what happens if we're in Chicago and the game comes down to the last shot," Gibson was saying late Friday night outside the Minnesota locker room. "He was like, ‘Man, that would be pretty cool.' He had the ball in his hand late, swung it ... things happen."

What happened was Zach LaVine, the feature player in the big Butler trade last June who finally outshot Butler down the stretch in a memorable closing clash that concluded with the Bulls overcoming a five-point deficit in the last 70 seconds for a 114-113 victory.

The win broke a seven-game Bulls losing streak, which was more footnote than feature in the battle in which LaVine made every big play down the stretch in scoring the last 11 Bulls points and a season best 35 overall to defeat the high flying Timberwolves, who now are 34-24. The Bulls are 19-35.

The Bulls had six players score in double figures as Robin Lopez had 19 and Jerian Grant had perhaps his best game of the season with 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds without a turnover with Kris Dunn still out. Lauri Markkanen returning from personal leave had 12 points along with Justin Holiday, though teammates apparently didn't recognize Markkanen as he got just seven shots, making five. Bobby Portis had 11 points off the bench while closing the game to defend Gibson.

Butler was terrific with a game high 38 points and 13 in the fourth quarter.  "Typical Jimmy game, bullying, getting to the rim, hitting shots; he was terrific," said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg.

But it was LaVine making the game winning plays, and basically against Butler, first with a driving dunk with 1:11 left after Butler lost him on a switch and the Timberwolves defense appeared confused and out of place.  That brought the Bulls within 111-108.

"Zach had that look in his eye that he was going to get a basket," said Hoiberg.

LaVine, who can be a disinterested defender, then got on Butler.  Hoiberg also knows drama. LaVine fought over the screen, forcing Butler to surrender the ball. It went to Tyus Jones, who drove and lost the ball. Then LaVine again escaped Butler and it was obvious the Bulls defense down the stretch was the more attuned. LaVine made a three from the right wing with 41 seconds left to tie the game at 111 with Gibson vainly trying to close.

"I'm not going to back down from anyone, either," said LaVine, averaging 26.5 points the last four games. "Jimmy's a really head strong dude, alpha. That's just how the game played out."

LaVine chased out on Butler as the Timberwolves inbounded after a timeout. Butler ran down the clock as Karl-Anthony Towns came up to set a screen, which Butler eschewed. Butler then drove right and along the baseline. Markkanen picked up Butler on a switch and Butler took advantage, circling around and driving in for a short bank shot on the left side to take a 113-111 lead with 21.5 seconds left.

Butler elected to ignore the switches this time on defense and stay with LaVine. Butler came out tight on the right wing. LaVine dribbled right, Butler lost him for a moment and then as LaVine shot, Butler went up. And fouled him shooting the three with 18.4 seconds left.

"I definitely fouled him," Butler admitted  afterward.

LaVine then swished all three free throws for the 114-113 Bulls lead in the Bulls only national TV game of the season.

"I was confident I was going to knock those free throws down," said LaVine. "I'm starting to feel good and I embrace that (closing) role."

Jimmy time? Bulls fans have seen that before, Butler with big time winners. Though Butler was coy pregame about the significance of his return and even declined to meet with media while Gibson and coach Tom Thibodeau did, this was his moment. Butler had made no secret of his desire to remain with the Bulls last season. But management believed that group with Butler had gone as far as possible. The result was the big trade, one of the biggest in franchise history, of the three-time Bulls All-Star for LaVine, who was out with knee surgery, Dunn and the draft rights to Markkanen.

The Timberwolves with former Bulls coach Thibodeau had beaten the Bulls the last five straight. This was an opportunity to truly make that last statement. It would not happen.

LaVine again lined up to defend Butler, though Hoiberg clearly was the more innovative defensively down the stretch with a series of rotating defenders, sometimes switching the pick and roll, sometime blitzing, the Timberwolves offense seemingly confused and mostly becoming Butler isolations. Minnesota would score just 46 points on 35 percent shooting in the second half while the Bulls shot 50 percent in the second half.

Butler jumped out on top to receive the ball with LaVine shadowing. Butler dribbled for awhile as Towns again came up to screen. This time the Bulls changed up and Markkanen went with LaVine on Butler. Butler threw back on the left side to Towns, who missed a three with six seconds left. The rebound went long left to Jones in the corner. Jones passed to Butler, who ran to the left sideline right in front of the Bulls bench and Hoiberg. What a sweet moment it would be. Butler gathered himself, raised up with two seconds, shot from three, the ball hanging in the air ... .

Butler, looking somber, strode off straight to the Timberwolves locker room.

"Never want to lose like that; it happens," Butler said after an exceptionally long post game shower and change. "I knew everybody thought I was going to shoot the ball. I trust KAT (Towns) like I trust myself. I've seen him make that shot time and again. We don't play hard all the time. We just have to figure out how to play hard; we'll figure it out."

Not that the Bulls are anywhere close to figuring it out, either.

But it was another step forward despite Dunn still being out with that post concussion. Here was a top Western Conference team with motivated former Bulls players and Butler having an MVP level season. Yet, it was the Bulls rebounding from a 17-point third quarter deficit to make all the right plays down the stretch while the Timberwolves were flummoxed. Even Thibodeau's outbursts hurt as when he apparently was yelling and gesticulating at Towns when Portis put back a Denzel Valentine miss with 8:36 left, the official interpreted it as meant for the him and assessed Thibodeau a costly technical foul in a one-point game.

"We got the 17-point lead and we didn't do what we needed to do," Thibodeau said in brief post game comments. "We're not good enough to think that the game is over five minutes into the third quarter. We messed around, we played with fire and we got burned."

Indeed, LaVine was hot after a modest start with 10 first half points. The Bulls led 30-27 after one quarter as Andrew Wiggins had 10 points, mostly losing LaVine on the weak side. It looked like the Timberwolves would take the game in the second quarter. The Bulls seemed to be studiously avoiding Markkanen, getting beaten on the offensive boards and Butler was rolling and loving it, a three at the close for a 67-56 halftime lead that was quickly 73-56 a few seconds into the second half.

Perhaps the pregame tribute would be the highlight.

Butler was introduced first for the Timberwolves and got a nice ovation, and then Gibson's seemed even louder. Then at 6:47 of the first quarter, the Bulls showed a video board tribute of Butler and Gibson as Bulls. Both got a standing ovation and saluted the fans after the video concluded. Both appeared grateful as Butler was when greeted post game in the Minnesota locker room by Bulls vice president John Paxson.

"Everybody knows I have a lot of love for this organization, this city, this fan base," said Butler. "Me and Taj talk about it all the time; this is where it started for both of us. It's great to see familiar faces. That's the kind of guy Pax is to come in say what's up, check in on me. I'm happy they're doing well; they deserve it, the city of Chicago does. It's great to see the fan base come out and watch me and Taj play, compete like we are still in a Bulls uniform, cheering for us, excited when we were out on the floor. That was huge. This was where it all started. They remember us for that; we love them right back for that."

Thibodeau was, as usual, positive and effusive about Chicago in his pregame comments, and Gibson was equally gracious.

"While the video was coming on I was thinking about my rookie year and the music in the United Center and thinking then to myself, ‘I made it.' It's hard to stick in the NBA and eight and a half years later I'm getting a tribute from a team I played my heart out for," said Gibson. "And not just any team, the Chicago Bulls. To have the city of Chicago stand up for me was amazing. This place was wonderful for me; became a man here. I put my head down thinking all those good memories coming back to me I didn't want to let go. Thibs saw the moment and stopped coaching for a minute. It was a long video and the crowd giving a standing ovation I was just shaking; it was surreal. You want to come in and play well, but the whole game you are shaking, proud and thinking about the memories; they said the first game back would be tough. It was a great time."

Especially for the Bulls thereafter as they hit the Timberwolves' starters with a 13-0 run to get back in the game, Markkanen making all three of his shots and LaVine and Denzel Valentine closing the quarter for an 89-86 Bulls lead. Minnesota took control to start the fourth as the Bulls reserves faltered and fell behind 94-89. With 7:35 remaining and the Bulls trailing 98-93, Hoiberg reinserted Markkanen and LaVine. And then for the last six minutes, other than a Holiday three, LaVine scored the rest of the Bulls points, all his 15 with drives, dunks, free throws, threes and mid range while also facing off against Butler.

It was the moment he and everyone else with the Bulls had been awaiting.

LaVine will not play Saturday against Washington as a precaution with a back to back. But he's coming fast.

"I don't think either one of us is going to back down, so it played out the right way for me this time," LaVine said about his Jimmy mano a mano. "He's an incredible big time player. I take the challenge; the team had the challenge as well. It was a little bit of a shootout and we came out on top. The emotions were there, the crowd was into it, I was into it. I think everybody on both sides were ready for this game for a long time.

"Shows we can go up and compete against anybody," LaVine added. "We've  blown some leads, lost some games we should have won. We have talent on this team and the future is going to be really good for us as long as we lock in and keep working and keep striving for greatness; were going to try to turn this thing around really soon."

No mystery this time. The Butler didn't do it.

bulls-close-out-timberwolves-114-113

Bulls close out Timberwolves, 114-113

Once upon a time, there were a dozen Chicago Bulls who came upon a Moda Center. One Bull, Zach LaVine, said, "We've been sorry in the first quarter," opponents "see it's soft out there." Another Bull, Denzel Valentine, said the team seems "kind of dazed right now." But one Portland Trailblazer, guard C.J. McCollum, said those Bulls looked just right to him as he scored 50 points through three quarters Wednesday and those Bulls just had to run away after a 124-108 loss to the Trailblazers.

Chicago Bulls should know you never wander in and explore while you are unprepared and indifferent because you'll only be chased into the night with fright.

"I looked up and I was like, 'I can get like 40,'" related McCollum, who outscored the Bulls 28-19 in the first quarter. "And Dame (Lillard) was like 'Get 50,' and I was like 'Ok, I'll get 50 then if you guys want me to.'"

Just as simple as eating your porridge and taking a nap, which Bulls players seemed to do at the start, offering little resistance and less competition in their fifth consecutive loss.

They are now 18-33 with games on this road trip Saturday in Los Angeles and Monday in Sacramento.

LaVine led the Bulls with a season high 23 points. Valentine had 15 and Cristiano Felicio 12 points, 11 in the fourth quarter. Jerian Grant had 11 points. Bobby Portis had eight points and 10 rebounds.

Though the big, bad story around the team remains the three Bulls who stayed away, Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen and Nikola Mirotic, the team's three leading scorers coming into the game accounting for 45 percent of the team's points. The Bulls are 5-15 when Dunn doesn't start. He is recovering from a concussion and now has the flu. He is in Chicago. Markkanen is in Chicago on a personal family matter and Mirotic is being held out of games until the Feb. 8 trading deadline as the Bulls work on possible deals. Memphis, similarly, is sitting out Tyreke Evans, also to avoid a potential injury during trade talks. The Bulls are 15-12 when Mirotic plays.

So the Bulls weren't going to be able to make many mistakes against a Portland team that beat the Bulls in Chicago in overtime earlier this month with the Bulls at full strength. Instead, the Bulls this time pretty much took care of whatever drama there might be in yet another lethargic start, falling behind—if that even was possible in an NBA game—by 21 points just over five minutes into the game.

McCollum, the 'Blazers second best player, made some tough shots. He did make some long shots, six of nine threes in the first quarter, some physical ones with eight free throws, though often lonely ones with Bulls defenders more often taking an artist's view and seeming to step back a few feet to admire his play.

"Just got to try to make it tough on him," said LaVine in what seemed like more a proposal than an action. "But dudes get going in this league, it's over."

It was pretty much over after an unfathomable 43-19 Portland first quarter. The Bulls cut the Portland lead below 20 points for just 15 seconds until the last minute of the game. The final score was the closest the Bulls were since trailing 20-2 with 7:27 left in the first quarter.

"That's kind of been the story of these slow starts, letting teams get comfortable and get into a rhythm," lamented once again Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. "Our game plan was to blitz him (McCollum); he was splitting our double teams and, obviously, made tough shots. Give them credit for coming out of the gate and setting the tone. You lose the first quarter by 24 points, you dig yourself such a hole. It's hard to get out of it and you lose the game by 16. The difference right now if you look at the last few games is the first quarter. We've won the last three (quarters) in the last three games. It's just the starts that we're getting off to right now."

There was a lot of that "if only" talk about the slow starts, which is sort of a fool's gold of competition. Teams don't play quite as seriously and desperately with a 29-point lead, which Portland had, or more than 20 from late in the second quarter to late in the fourth quarter and still by 26 with under three minutes left.

Though there's not evidence this Bulls group doesn't care, has given up or accepts the losing.

"I think we have good enough guys and strong enough players and people that we can come out and compete no matter what the deal is," insisted Valentine. "They're coming off screens, not getting hit, taking whatever shots they want. We're just kind of like 'Ah,' then we trot down the floor. Sometimes you just go through these droughts. We're competitors. We're not just going to lay down because we are missing three players and say we have no chance to win; we had a chance to win. Those last three quarters we pretty much beat them. We can compete with any team in the league; we've shown that multiple occasions. It doesn't help with our three players being out, but that's no excuse. We still have players who can compete."

It's, nevertheless, looking like a tough weekend with Dunn and Markkanen uncertain about rejoining the team and Mirotic waiting. He spent the game back at the team hotel. Hoiberg said he didn't know if Mirotic would return home Thursday when the team leaves for Los Angeles.

The players don't appear much shaken by the events, most understanding the myriad uncertainties at trade time. Blake Griffin went from Clipper-for-life in July to galoshes and stocking cap by January. There are no guarantees. And now it seems like it's Mirotic's turn to move on after his preseason fight with Portis and the reports this week of a trade with New Orleans failing. The Bulls seemed to make clear by removing Mirotic they will look at other possibilities while trying to renew the talks with the Pelicans as well as Mirotic to accept a trade.

"We're more than capable of being a competitive team and we haven't been competitive the last couple of games," noticed LaVine. "So it will be good to get (Dunn) back and Lauri and see what happens with Niko. But we just have to figure it out."

At least LaVine took some positive steps in that direction with his best offensive game in his return from his anterior cruciate surgery. He shot eight of 13 mostly on jump shots and three of four on threes in 22 minutes. He didn't play the fourth quarter.

"I played the same way," said LaVine. "Shots just went in instead of going in and out. Felt good, but regardless it's not about how I perform. It's the W or the L. So we as a collective group have to do a lot better. I've been going two games good, two games bad or inconsistent. So I'm just trying to build through that process. I'm working every day at that."

The Bulls now have the sixth poorest record in the league. Atlanta is 30th, but just three games behind the Bulls. The Bulls only have these two road games before the Feb. 8 trading deadline. Then Feb. 9 they host Minnesota in the return of Jimmy Butler, the first of two games with the Timberwolves in two weeks. In between are games with Washington, Toronto and Philadelphia.

"We'll get those other guys back at some point and it'll be fun to see this team when we're full strength and when we put these guys out there on the floor together," said Hoiberg. "We do miss Kris, but we can't use that as an excuse for continuing to get off to these slow starts.  Take this season in chucks from where we started at 3-20. We really made strides and grew and got better and found a way to put together a great stretch of basketball. Now we're sliding the wrong way again. But we have to stay positive, find things we did well, which there were some tonight, but obviously we have to get much better as far as consistency. There is very little margin for error with this group."

bulls-burned-by-blazers-124-108

Bulls Burned by Blazers, 124-108

If Kris Dunn misses many more games he could be in the running for MVP. Certainly with the Bulls 108-103 loss Friday to the Los Angeles Lakers, at least Most Valu-Bull.

The Bulls with point guard Dunn missing his fourth straight game with a concussion and apparently no imminent return, fell behind the Lakers by 17 points early in yet another lackluster start. The Bulls rallied back impressively behind the reserves led by Nikola Mirotic with 18 points and Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine each with 16. Lauri Markkanen led the starters with 11 points.

And then after trailing by double digits in each quarter, usually after a casual stretch with the starting five, the Bulls hung a 16-1 fourth quarter piece of art work on the Lakers and still led 97-96 with 2:46 left. The Bulls next points with Zach LaVine and Markkanen taking turns at point guard down the stretch was with 13.3 seconds left and the Lakers leading by eight.

The Bulls coughed up 14 turnovers for 20 Lakers points and strolled back as the Lakers scored 33 points in transition on fast breaks. LaVine had a miserable three of 17 shooting game for 10 points as the starters were a combined 14 for 50. The Lakers had 52 inside points to just 30 for the Bulls, who were 17 of 36 on threes.

The Bulls are 18-31. The Lakers moved to 19-29 in winning their eighth in the last 10.

"Kris (is) obviously our best push guard and getting the ball down in a hurry and is our best player in our flow offense," noted Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. "We're still adjusting without Kris, who obviously has been a big part of what we are doing here. We are trying to get Zach reintegrated into what we are doing as well. Some if it is moving parts, understanding where guys are on the floor. We need to finish at the rim better and we will. I'm confident Zach's got good days ahead. He is trying to get his rhythm, but that will come.

"Kris really had developed into our closer and we obviously are without him now and you've seen that happened in two of the close games we've had (losing down the stretch to the Pelicans)," Hoiberg pointed out. "We need to find someone to make the right plays. Niko hit some big shots, but we need to find that person who we can give the ball to close it and that's why we went with Zach late in the game because he can manufacture a shot and create his own look and also create for teammates."

He likely can and will convert some of those shots. Though not Friday as LaVine missed both his free throws with 1:14 left while trailing 101-97 and then an off balance driving layup with 38.7 seconds left still trailing by the same score after the Bulls did force a miss. Markkanen missed on the follow dunk attempt and then the Bulls began fouling. The Lakers made their free throws with Markkanen and Mirotic threes coming too late.

"I know it's a process," said LaVine, who in seven games back after missing 11 months following knee surgery is averaging 13.6 points and shooting 38 percent, 36 percent on threes. "It gets frustrating at times; you want to smooth it out. You want to be in those situations (at the close). I'm willing and able to. Just didn't happen.

"I just think it was a  bad game," LaVine offered with a  shrug. "I missed a lot of easy shots, a lot of easy plays I normally make; just have to be better. I haven't been through this before; first time for me. It's frustrating because you feel able to and it's just not going sometimes. I just feel like today was a bad game. But regardless of the way I played, we were capable of winning the game and that's what we should have done. I missed shots; ball didn't go in the hoop."

It was an uncharacteristic shooting game for LaVine, though he was correct. And, most importantly he did play 26 minutes without physical limitations. The Bulls had chances to win in another entertaining game thanks to the reserves' play. The loss could be blamed more on questionable ball handling and offense, the failure to get back in transition against the sprinting Lakers, making a hard foul to at least limit three-point plays, which the Bulls only occasionally do.

The Bulls knew coming into this season point guard remained the most important position to fill, which is why they tried all sorts of experimental moves in recent seasons, like last season's trade for Cameron Payne. Fortunately, Dunn developed quickly after starting the season on the bench. He became a late game big shot maker to general surprise, but also a vital defender in transition and the player Hoiberg relied upon to change the team's torpid identity.

After starting the season among the league's slowest teams, the Bulls behind Dunn went from 23rd in pace in early December, according to figures supplied by the Bulls, to second since December 8 with also the return of Mirotic. The Bulls assists the last two months have been more than 25 per game, ranking in the league's top 3. They had 21 Friday.

Jerian Grant had nine points and eight assists without a turnover, which are excellent numbers for a point guard. But Grant isn't an adept offensive facilitator as evidenced by Hoiberg using both Markkanen and LaVine in the fourth quarter as playmakers. That doesn't appear to be a strength of either.

"It's not just difficult on Zach, but on us, too," said Valentine, who also played some point guard and had 11 rebounds and four of six threes. "When you add a new piece—thank god it's a very good piece—it stinks at times, but it will work out. Our chemistry is messed up with different lineups, different people in there. I think that's why we're turning the ball over a little bit and our defense is a little shaky.

"Zach coming back makes us a ton better, so that's a good problem to have," noted Valentine, who lost his starting spot to LaVine. "It's tough not only for me, but for coach, the whole team. But it's a good problem to have. I think we'll figure it out and when we do it's going to be special."

The Bulls haven't appeared very special these last two games, outplayed badly in Philadelphia Wednesday after that double overtime disappointment in New Orleans. And then beaten out of the starting blocks by the Lakers, who quickly were leading 30-13. There was a lot of Lopez-on-Lopez crime in those first and third quarter sequences with twin brother Brook getting 17 points and a plus-19 to eight points for Robin and a miss-21. They've now split the 18 career games against one another. So it was the Bulls reserves again led by Portis and Valentine in the first quarter and then a dose of David Nwaba to settle things.

"Our starters, for the most part, have been great for us all year," said Hoiberg. "But we have not gotten off to good starts our last two games. That was a big part of how we turned our season around. Now we're digging holes."

The Bulls cut the Lakers lead to 32-25 after one quarter and then got within 57-55 after a Justin Holiday steal and pass ahead to Nwaba for a running dunk and three-point play. Former Laker Nwaba had eight points. The Lakers led by Brandon Ingram's 25 points (Lonzo Ball was out with a sore knee) went back ahead 62-57 at halftime. But another of those brutal stretches of mistakes with four turnovers in five third quarter possessions enabled the Lakers an 11-0 run and they led 84-72 after three quarters. The Lakers quickly made it 89-76 early in the fourth quarter before that big Bulls kick. Mirotic had a pair of clever fakes to draw Lakers flybys for threes and Valentine hit a pair of step back threes, giving the Bulls a 92-90 lead with 5:38 left in the game.

Home, facing a young Lakers team that coughed up multiple double digit leads? Time to pull away? The Bulls couldn't find anyone to drive the train.

"Our second unit did a really, really good job getting us back into that game," Hoiberg agreed. "They got us back into it in the fourth when we fell behind double digits."

Mirotic made another three after the Lakers got a fast break score after yet another turnover, that one by Mirotic. So it still was 95-92 Bulls with 4:11 left.

"We knew this (fast break) is their strength," said Mirotic. "I remember I had one really bad turnover in the fourth quarter, important possession. Things like that happen. We just need to have patience (in) important moments, try to find the hot guy and make it simple."

Markkanen and Mirotic then missed quick threes as the ball movement was weak without a confident playmaker. Yet, Mirotic got himself under and fouled and dropped a pair of free throws with 2:46 left for the 97-96 Bulls lead. But after that Markkanen was stripped trying to take advantage of a mismatch inside, missed a forced three with time running out on the shot clock in a poor possession. Then LaVine missed his pair of free throws and then the driving layup attempt out of a timeout followed by Markkanen's missed dunk follow, after which he angrily (rare for him) complained about a missed foul call. Yes, young man, you are officially now an NBA player.

The Bulls, too, are looking for a little help.

bulls-cant-close-out-the-lakers-108-103

Bulls can't close out the Lakers, 108-103

It was an amazing night Friday in the United Center as the still streaking Bulls leading by double digits most of the game defeated the Indiana Pacers 119-107.

A saucer like ship sat hovering over the United Center, several aliens with plasma heads peeking out to apparently marvel at the career high 32 points from Lauri Markkanen and 28 from Nikola Mirotic, the two combining for 13 three pointers. Sitting courtside was hefty, but polite Sasquatch with goggled Amelia Earhart discussing the years they spent exploring Atlantis.

C'mon, this Bulls run of 10 wins in the last 12 games and continued domination of top Eastern Conference teams remains just as unbelievable.

"He's been great," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said of Markkanen, whose arsenal included follow dunks and left and right handed drives amidst his five threes. "It was good to see him take the lid off early with some three-point shots. And when they did switch on us, I thought we had great awareness to get him the ball in the paint. He's (Mirotic) just so confident right now. I really truly believe that's rubbing off on our entire team. Just the way he's going out there and playing with confidence and swagger and fun.

"Kris Dunn's transformation and turnaround has been a big part of that as well," said Hoiberg, though Dunn was a late scratch with knee tendinitis with Jerian Grant starting. "Jerian, I really think he's turned his game around since moving into a new role. He's played key minutes for us and made big shots, made more tonight and not just the (12) assists, but the timely shots he's making (three of six threes for 11 points). The thing I've really liked about our group is everyone who steps on the floor is contributing right now in a positive way and that's a great sign."

It's in many respects the current top story in the NBA even with the 13-22 record.

This team that was dismissed as league wide fodder and playing the role well in a 3-20 start now is 10-5 in December and tied with Golden State for the best league record over the last three weeks.

That coincides with Mirotic's return from what was portrayed as the final nail team destroying altercation with Bobby Portis. Now averaging 18 points and shooting 48 percent on threes, Mirotic is if not an MVP candidate a leading contender for Most Improved and Sixth Man.

Heck, half the roster is in the running for Most Improved.

Markkanen with the bust out game after a recent shooting slump ranks in the top four among rookies in scoring and rebounding.