The Chicago Bulls ended their three game losing streak against the Charlotte Hornets, and win their first game of the season.
It wasn’t the best start for the Chicago Bulls, as Fred Hoiberg called the first timeout of the game. The first player off the Bulls bench was Cristiano Felicio. Felicio had six points in the first quarter. After one quarter, the Bulls trailed 27-23. The Bulls had six blocks in the first quarter.
The Bulls second unit had a really good first half. At one point in the second quarter, the Bulls made six straight shots and went on a 13-2 run. Bulls rookie Chandler Hutchison played six minutes and had eight points. Hutchison’s eight points all came in the paint.
Jabari Parker had nine points and was very active on both ends off the court. Zach LaVine had 10 points, while Ryan Arcidiacono had six points. At halftime, the Chicago Bulls led 54-53. The Bulls bench led the starters in points after the first half (35-19).
Second half
Cameron Payne started to get going, as he had 15 third quarter points that featured five three pointers. Zach LaVine had 12 third quarter points to give the Bulls a 88-82 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Hornets started the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run, but the Bulls didn’t quit. Cameron Payne had six more points in the fourth quarter to give him 21 points in the game.
It was a tie game with five seconds left when the Hornets had the ball. Hornets inbounded the ball to Kemba Walker, but Zach LaVine made a great defensive play to block it and the ball went out a bounds. The refs reviewed it and determined that it was last touched by Walker.
It was the Bulls ball when Zach LaVine drove to the lane and got fouled. He made two free throws with .5 seconds left, and the Bulls got their first win of the season. LaVine finished the game with 32 points and became the second player in Chicago Bulls history to start the season with four straight games of 30 or more points.
Zach LaVine and Cameron Payne really carried the Bulls in the second half. Both players were feeling it, and the other players realized that.
Zach LaVine scored eight of the Bulls last 12 points. He scored the Bulls last six points. Zach dominated in the fourth quarter and just took over the game. The Chicago Bulls got their first win of the season and are 1-3 this season. Bulls next game is Friday on the road against the Hornets.
Potential bad news
In the third quarter, Bobby Portis hurt his right knee, and was in a lot of pain. Portis walked under his own power, but went back to the locker room. After the game, Fred Hoiberg said via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune that Bobby Portis will get a scan on his right knee Thursday morning. Johnson also noted that there’s an internal concern that Portis will miss extended time.