Here's the latest Chicago Bulls news after a road win over the Toronto Raptors, including Lonzo Ball's clutch shot, an extended team-wide 3-point streak and a potentially worrisome Josh Giddey injury.
Lonzo Ball came up big when it mattered most in win over Raptors
Through the first three quarters of Monday night's road tilt against Toronto, Lonzo Ball had three points. He had played 14 minutes and was 1-for-8 from the field and 1-for-7 from deep.
But it was Chicago's veteran floor general who halted the Raptors' fourth-quarter rally and helped seal a 122-121 win.
BIG BALLER. LONZO BALL IS CLUTCH.@CHSN__ | @ZO2_ pic.twitter.com/0lDlgP6iVp
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 17, 2024
In a game that needed balanced scoring for Chicago to win - seven Bulls players scored in double figures but no one had more than 20 other than Nikola Vucevic (24) - Ball's late-game heroics were required, to say the least.
That and his ability to impact winning in places other than the scoring column; Ball also had six rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block.
The Bulls find themselves tied with ... the Cleveland Cavaliers?
No, not in the standings, although Chicago continues to win an uncomfortable amount of games (the Bulls are now ninth in the East after going 5-5 in their last 10 contests).
Billy Donovan's team is tied with Cleveland - which has the best record in the NBA, mind you - in a key 3-point accuracy stat.
The Bulls connected on 14 threes in their win over the Raptors, which made it 27 games in a row with at least 10 made 3-pointers.
That's a franchise record, and the run has Chicago tied with the Cavs for the longest current streak in the league, per Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune.
Josh Giddey's ankle injury could be a problem
Giddey was on track for his second triple-double in a Bulls uniform with 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists when he left last night's game in the third quarter with an ankle injury.
It didn't look like it will be a significant issue. But the 22-year-old's recent history with that same ankle could make the knock problematic.
Giddey ruptured a ligament in that same right ankle during the 2024 Olympics. It caused him to miss most of the team's preseason activities, which was a critical blow considering his need to get accustomed to new teammates and a new system.
There haven't been any updates on the severity of last night's injury (as of Tuesday morning), but Giddey's recent history with that ankle makes this at least concerning. He hasn't lit the world on fire in Chicago by any means, but the organization needs to see as much as it can from him, as he's due a new contract after this season.