Two former Chicago Bulls combined for 30 in revenge game
By Nello Rubio
Just a few days after being traded by the Chicago Bulls, Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker returned to the United Center to lead Washington to victory.
The Chicago Bulls had some familiar faces return to the United Center Saturday night when Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker returned to Chicago with the Washington Wizards just days after being traded for Otto Porter Jr.
The trade gave the Bulls a much-needed wingman who can play defense, spread the floor and hit the three. The Wizards got two great bench players that can really benefit from more playing time for a team looking to still make the playoffs.
Early on, the Bulls looked like they were on the verge of spoiling the revenge game for Portis and Parker, jumping out to a quick 10-2 lead within the first two minutes. That would be the Bulls’ biggest lead of the game, though, as Washington would go on a quick 8-0 run out of a timeout to tie the game.
Both teams traded leads throughout much of the three-plus minutes that saw the Bulls up by one with 7:07 left in the first. That, unfortunately, would be the last lead the Bulls would see, though, as Chicago would make the game close at several small points throughout the rest of the game but never again capture the lead.
The Wizards, thanks to Portis’ double-double and Parker’s 20 points, would end up beating the Bulls by a final score of 134-125. The two former Bulls combined for 30 of Washington’s 64 bench points.
The way the Bulls played against them, you would’ve thought they forgot how to stop two players they knew well. One of the biggest head-scratchers being the Bulls allowing Parker to get an insane seven dunks for 14 of his 20 points.
While Portis and Parker did have really solid games that helped Washington get a victory, new Bull (and former Wizard) Otto Porter Jr. also had a solid game with 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field.
Otto’s ability to space the floor has helped the Bulls’ offense over the last two games. Especially Zach LaVine, who had 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting to go along with six assists and Lauri Markkanen, who added another double-double of his own with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Looking at this trade after only a couple of games, it looks like one of those rare deals that can benefit both teams equally.