A loss to the Sacramento Kings on the night of Jan. 6 snapped the Chicago Bulls two-game winning streak, by a pretty slim four point margin.
The steadily improving play from the Chicago Bulls backcourt in the last few games didn’t get the result that the team wanted in the win column on the night of Jan. 6. The Bulls and first-year head coach Billy Donovan faced the Sacramento Kings in a late tip off in the second night of their west coast road trip this week.
In their first outing on this road trip, the Bulls knocked off star point guard Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers in impressive fashion, by the final score of 111-108. It was the second win in a row for the Bulls, and their fourth in the last five games. But the Kings would wind up being the team that spoils the fun for the Bulls on Jan. 6.
The Bulls came in with a record of 4-4, while the Kings came into the game with a record of 3-4. But after this win, the Kings are a solid 3-1 at home so far this season.
Moreover, a well rounded team effort (especially down the stretch in the fourth quarter) won this game that went back and forth for the Kings. They got this win by the narrow final score of 128-124. It was yet another rough defensive outing for this young Bulls team.
Three players in the Kings starting five scored at least 20 points on this night. And they got at least a dozen points three of just four players that came off the bench. It was largely the productive frontcourt pairing of Marvin Bagley and Richaun Holmes that led the way for the Kings. Those two combined for 45 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, three steals, two blocks, and just three turnovers.
Even Bagley was effective from range, shooting 3-of-5 from downtown. Bagley’s solid return from injury this season continued in this win for the Kings. Rookie point guard Tyrese Haliburton was also very effective off the bench for the Kings, with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block, on the night.
The impressive start to Haliburton’s rookie campaign with the Kings continued on Jan. 6. He is definitely one of the dark horse contenders for the Rookie of the Year honors still early on in the 2020-21 season.
On the Bulls side, the powering forces that nearly got them the win over the Kings was the backcourt pairing of second-year point guard Coby White and shooting guard Zach LaVine. The rapidly improving play from White and the explosive scoring breakthrough of LaVine both continued on the night of Jan. 6.
White actually mustered a career-high 36 points, to go along with three rebounds, seven assists, and no turnovers. He shot an efficient 15-of-23 from the field, 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, LaVine had a solid night too, amassing 32 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one block, but six turnovers. And he shot 13-of-24 from the field, 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line.
Not many other Bulls players, outside of these two and center Wendell Carter Jr., did much for the Bulls in this game. Veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr. definitely didn’t do anything to help the Bulls case, amassing just three points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field in more than 25 minutes played.
Carter Jr. did give the Bulls a season-high 17 rebounds and 11 points, though.
It is a shame that this spotless effort from White, and another solid scoring night from LaVine, was put to waste in this four-point loss. They will have to get a more well-rounded effort from the starting five in their next outing.
Next up for White, LaVine, and the Bulls is a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers and the supestar pairing of forward LeBron James and big man Anthony Davis on the road on the night of Jan. 8. The Bulls will now carry a record of 4-5 into that meeting with the defending NBA Champion Lakers.