Postgame wrap: Bulls 114, Pelicans 106

Due to an equal combination of injuries and suspensions – the latter via a Friday fracas vs. Miami – New Orleans played Sunday’s game without four rotation members. Although the Pelicans built a 12-point second-half lead and looked poised to prevail, the Bulls used a big scoring run to regain the edge and pull off a quality road victory. DeMar DeRozan, normally a reluctant three-point shooter, sank the biggest bucket of the game in the final minute, a trey that expanded Chicago’s lead to two possessions with just 29 seconds remaining. The Pelicans wrapped up a 1-2 homestand, dropping consecutive weekend games to current Eastern Conference play-in teams. “It came down to us – we turned the ball over,” third-year head coach Willie Green said of what was costly in leading to the Bulls rallying back. “Not giving ourselves an opportunity to run good offense. We gave ourselves an opportunity (to win) at the end, but the same (problems happened): turnovers, missed free throws and (allowing) offensive rebounds. We had all of those things happen.”

Hot shooting from Matty Ice.
Part of the thick of the rotation for the first time in more than three months, sharpshooter Matt Ryan capitalized on his long-awaited opportunity to contribute again, starting on fire from three-point range and finishing 4/9 on deep balls, among his 14 points in just 19 reserve minutes. Ryan had not logged more than five minutes in any game since he sustained a Nov. 18 injury at Minnesota.
Zion near triple-double.
Zion Williamson threatened double digits in the three major categories, posting 19 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists, the latter tying his career high, set earlier this season. The Pelicans were plus-6 with Williamson on the floor, but minus-14 when he was resting. Non-Williamson minutes were vital in the second half.
Big vs. small.
With CJ McCollum (ankle) and Jose Alvarado (suspension) sidelined and New Orleans using a supersized starting lineup (Herb Jones and Trey Murphy were the guards), while Chicago relied on a small group (DeRozan at power forward), the hosts figured to have an advantage in important areas around the basket. That was not the case. Rebounding was a deadlock at 49, as was points in the paint at 46. Chicago held a slight edge in second-chance points (15-14), effectively overcoming its height disadvantage.

17-9: Chicago lead in fast-break points. The visitors used their quickness to outrun the Pelicans. Ayo Dosunmu sank transition threes and helped ignite the transition attack.
19: Pelicans turnovers, which was eight more than the Bulls committed. In his first game back from illness and a pair of injury DNPs, Brandon Ingram had nine turnovers, but led New Orleans by scoring 22 points.
7-3: New Orleans record in February. Given the team’s schedule this month, 8-4 may have seemed like a reasonable goal. The Pelicans still have a chance to do that on a two-game road trip to New York and Indiana to wrap up February.