Following a somewhat impressive win against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, the Chicago Bulls looked to repeat that performance hosting the Clippers. After lighting Los Angeles up for 32 points in the second quarter, the Bulls score 30 points in the final 24 minutes.
Early scoring from unlikely suspects summarized the first stretch between the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers. Robin Lopez and J.J. Redick scored 10 and 8 points respectively in their first stints off the tip. A few of Lopez’s buckets came from assists via Jimmy Butler, who found himself double-teamed early, especially in the low post.
Chicago spread the wealth in the first quarter, taking a six-point lead going into the second. The Bulls focused on the Clippers stars — Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan — early and often, forcing them to make poor decisions.
The quarter ended as well as the Bulls could’ve hoped, with Rajon Rondo making a slick pass for a Cristiano Felicio dunk.
This Rondo pass to Big Cris....😮 pic.twitter.com/lRIjnO2CqQ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 5, 2017
Chicago extended their lead with Rondo and company on the floor. Rondo, Felicio, Nikola Mirotic, Denzel Valentine and Paul Zipser combined to shoot 9-of-16 from the floor, including a couple threes.
Hoiberg’s bench unit continued to move the ball well. I must give credit where credit is due.
Offensively, Rondo’s filled his role off the bench well, especially since the All-Star break. The Bulls’ bench scored 23 points in the first half on more assists than the starters, six of which came from Rondo.
As Doc Rivers rotated his starters back in, the Clippers made a push to eradicate Chicago’s lead midway through the second, cutting it down to two with a couple minutes to go. Bobby Portis filled it up late in the half, going on a six point run on his own.
Bobby Portis was not very nice to the UC's rims in the last minute of the half: pic.twitter.com/kDjgIsf4aw
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 5, 2017
Chris Paul hit a three with four seconds left in the half, but the Bulls took a 61-55 lead going into the break.
The Clippers and Bulls starting units exchanged baskets to begin the third. DeAndre Jordan dominated Robin Lopez on the offensive glass, adding four points to Los Angeles’ comeback effort. Bobby Portis, on the other hand, didn’t contribute much. He resorted back to the Bobby Portis we know and love; shooting, and missing whenever he received the ball.
That’s when things started falling apart.
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Hoiberg’s bench unit didn’t replicate their performance from the first half. They scored 10 total points in the third and went scoreless for nearly the final five minutes, giving the Clippers a nine-point lead going into the final period.
Things continued to fall apart.
Former Bull Jamal Crawford poured it on Chicago in the fourth, going 5-for-8 in the final period. Crawford led all scorers with 25 points.
Turnovers and a general inability to score the basketball plagued the Bulls in the second half, allowing the Clippers’ eight-ranked offense regain the lead and keep it.
Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 16 points and six assists. Paul Zipser played well off the bench, scoring an efficient 10 points, but it wasn’t enough.
Next: Bobby Portis' new role since the trade deadline