Chicago Bulls: 5 things to love from the dominant victory over Atlanta

The Chicago Bulls played one of their best games of the season tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. Here are five things to love from the dominant win.

For the Chicago Bulls, tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks was a must-win. The Bulls had lost three straight and were playing a Hawks squad coming off an overtime loss in Miami. Thankfully, Zach LaVine and Co. didn’t disappoint.

Here are five things to love from tonight’s 136-102 win over the Hawks.

1. Shutting down Trae Young

The Bulls made basketball a very tough game for Trae Young. He shot 4-of-14 from the field and 1-of-6 from 3-point range. He did dish out 13 assists but he was sloppy with the ball all night, turning it over seven times.

Kris Dunn was a large part of why Young struggled. He was in Trae’s grill 90 feet from the basket and constantly had his hands in the passing lanes.

If you make the game difficult for Trae Young, it consequently makes the game difficult for the Hawks. The Bulls did a nice job of that tonight.

2. The two stars playing like actual stars

Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen absolutely balled out tonight. LaVine scored 35 points on an absurd 12-of-16 shooting from the field and a jaw-dropping 7-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. Markkanen was quieter for most of the night, but still put up a really nice 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field.

Thanks to the Bulls’ big lead, both of those guys played less than 26 minutes. That’s sensational. If the Bulls can continue to get efficient production from those two guys going forward, they might find themselves back in the playoff race.

3. Thaddeus Young’s minutes

Jim Boylen trusted Thaddeus Young with a heftier workload tonight and it paid off. Young played 33 minutes and scored 15 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field to go along with nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. He also had a +33 (+33!) plus/minus.

The Bulls need Thad to play a big role going forward.

4. Coby White going to the basket

Tonight was one of my favorite Coby White games of the season. He scored 19 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting from the field. The best part? He didn’t make a three.

That’s right! I love that Coby had a fantastic game that didn’t involve getting absurdly hot from 3-point range.

White proved that he doesn’t need to hit threes to be a good offensive player. He used his dribble to get to the rim and he finished efficiently when he got there. It was beautiful and refreshing to watch.

5. Denzel Valentine’s floater

Denzel Valentine put on a weird show tonight, but a show nonetheless. He hit his first four shots, and they were all floaters. He’s truly one of the oddest players in the NBA. He plays really slow and thrives when shooting lengthy floaters.

It doesn’t make sense, but it’s effective.

The Bulls will look to keep things rolling when Devonte’ Graham and the Charlotte Hornets come to town on Friday night.