BULLS LOSE IN OVERTIME
The Chicago Bulls (32-18) are North of the border in Toronto to face the Raptors (26-23) in an empty Scotiabank Arena. Before the game it was announced that Zach LaVine (2x) and Fred Van Vleet would be AllStars. LaVine was also questionable for this game with back spasms.
1ST HALF
1st Quarter - It seems the Bulls are coming out with the 'we'll outscore you' mentality once again as they're not showing much defence to start. They luckily end the quarter not down by much with a score of 26-24 Raptors.
Bulls
Vooch 5pts
LaVine 5pts
4players 3pts
Raptors
Van Vleet 7pts
Siakam 6pts
Anunoby 5pts
2nd Quarter - Bulls come out hot with a White 3 pointer to start and even though the Raptors get an 11pt lead, the Bulls finish with an 11-4 run to keep the game close. It ends 54-50 Raptors and the Bulls need to show up on defense in the next half or this will be a long game for them.
Bulls
Vooch 12pt, 10rebs
DeRozan, White 8pts
Green, Dosunmu 7pts
Raptors
Siakam 15pts
Boucher 8pts
3x 7pts
32 points in the paint
2ND HALF
3rd Quarter - Bulls will be hoping to be more accomplished on offence but a lot of good looks were not falling so far. The 3rd starts off well for the Bulls as they retake the the lead but a few turnovers and Bulls start to collapse (again). It stays close but the Raptors maintain the lead and win the quarter (33-31) with score of 87-81.
Bulls
Vooch 22pts
DeRozan 14pts
White 13pts
Raptors
Siakam 17pts
VanVleet 16pts
Boucher 14pts
4th Quarter - Bulls need to come out big, need some rebounds and need to stop the turnovers. Vooch has been playing well so far and a crazy 4th finishes with some huge plays, especially from Vooch. We're going to OT with a score of 114-114 after the Bulls win the quarter 33-27.
Bulls
Vooch 30pts
DeRozan 24pts
Raptors
Siakam 23pts
VanVleet 21pts
OVERTIME
Raptors start with back-to-back 3's from Anunoby on either side of a DeRozan 2. And with some silly turnovers in the last minute and leaving Trent Jr wide open for a 3 kills it off. Bulls are embarrassed in OT, losing the quarter 13-6. Bulls lose 127-120.
POSTGAME STATS
Bulls
Vucevic 30 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists
DeRozan 28 points, 7 assists
LaVine 15 points, 7 assists
Dosunmu 11 points, 8 assists, two crucial TOs late
White 16 points off bench
Raptors
Siakam 25 points, 13 rebounds
Anunoby 21pts
VanVleet 21pts
Final Takeaway
The game was there to be won for the Bulls despite it not looking that way all game. The lack of depth and size seems to cost them again as it seemed they were bullied in the paint all night, but the Raps come hot from 3 when it mattered. Bulls 1st overtime game of the season and it saw Ayo Dosunmu look like a rookie, with 2 turnovers at a costly time. Tough 1 to take especially with the Bulls upcoming schedule.
NEXT UP: Bulls go again tomorrow in Indy against the Pacers.
Player Of The Game
Quite an easy one tonight, the honors go to Nikola Vucevic. Vooch had himself a game tonight as he came up big on both ends and nearly won it at the end for the Bulls. He was certainly missed when off the court as the Raptors bigs just destroyed Bulls all night. He finished with a slash of 30pts/18reb/4ast/1stl/1blk.
-Matt H (Twitter:@matthearn1)
