Chicago Bulls: 2 studs, 1 dud, from scrappy win over Raptors

Chicago Bulls studs from scrappy win over the Raptors: Nikola Vucevic

The last two games really saw the version of the two-time All-Star center, Nikola Vucevic, that Bulls fans thought they were getting when the front office gave up so much to get him from the Orlando Magic at the trade deadline last season. Vucevic really showed up to play in the last two games, helping to put some of the concerns that arose from his previous struggles to rest.

If Vucevic can keep up the type of production he’s shown in the last two games, the Bulls are going to be in a great spot down the stretch this season. In the Bulls’ win over the Thunder back on Jan. 24, Vucevic had an impressive night with 26 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three blocks.

Vucevic didn’t have that type of night in this win over the Raptors on the defensive end of the floor. But he was still very solid when it mattered most for the Bulls. He came up with 17 points on a solid 8-of-11 shooting from the field, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and he didn’t have any attempts from the free-throw line against the Raptors.

The Bulls also got a game-high 15 rebounds, eight assists, no steals, no blocks, and four turnovers out of Vucevic in this contest. This should go down as one of the better performances at this point of the regular season for Vucevic. It only helps his cause that he hit the three-pointer that really put this game away for the Bulls in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter.