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The Bulls capped a two-game road streak against the Washington Wizards with a 133-130 shorthanded victory, moving their record to 2-3. Here is what stands out:
Some frantic bench games
Just under 90 minutes before the report, Billy Donovan reported Lauri Markkanen, Tomáš Satoranský, Chandler Hutchison, and Ryan Arcidiacono will be late for the game and entering NBA health and safety protocols.
That left the Bulls coach without a starter to find his rhythm and three reservists Donovan had shown confidence throughout pre and regular season games. In place of Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr., who was a godsend for the bench, raced with the starters.
And yet the Bulls reserves have shown. Daniel Gafford, Thad Young, Garrett Temple and Denzel Valentine combined for 41 points.
Leading the way was the Gafford to infectious energy. He finished the night with 15 points (7 for 8 from the field), five rebounds (three offensives), two assists, two steals, one block, a handful of his typically thunderous dunks and several active defensive plays.
In a salient stretch, Gafford replaced Wendell Carter Jr. with six and a half minutes left in the second quarter and the Wizards on the heels of a 10-0 run that featured four Bulls turnovers. Gafford threw at home a rim jam on a stream from Garrett Temple that set off a 7-0 Bulls run to tie the game at 56. They entered the half-time break before 71-68, with Gafford closing the quarter.
In his debut in the season, Young notably had 15 points and six assists, and ended the game alongside Coby White, LaVine, Temple and Porter. It was kind of a night ready to stay.
Otto-matic
On that subject, Porter, in a swinging role, continued to deliver for the Bulls. In 31 minutes, he led the Bulls with 28 points, many of them on time – including the two free throws that made it a three-point game late.
Integrated in this line: shooting at 3 points 5 for 9. On the side: 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Overall, this is Porter’s fifth consecutive double-digit result to open a critical season for him. As a veteran who is asked to adapt his role to the passing breeze, he has been a breath of fresh air so far.
Certified shot
These teams entered the first (Bulls) and third (Wizards) of the night at PACE, and watched the play. It was a high octane case.
The Wizards burst out the gate for a 41-point first quarter – the 40-plus third quarter the Bulls have allowed this season – with 68.4 percent shots and 6 of 8 of 3 . The Bulls, however, kept pace, scoring 35 points with a 3-point 6-for-10 shot. They assisted on 11 of 14 total field goals, which marks a season-high for a quarter ( that they would match in the second).
And the bucket barely slowed down from there. The Bulls entered at halftime with a 71-68 lead. They passed the milestone of the century with 1:46 remaining in the third period. The final tally speaks for itself.
Obviously, this does not correspond to a satisfactory defensive performance. The Wizards nearly broke 50% of the field and 3 points and attempted 39 free throws. They had three players shatter 22 points, including another triple-double from Russell Westbrook and a 10-for-11 explosion from Thomas Bryant.
But…
So close, but so far
The Bulls’ ball movement was sublime. For the second game in a row, three players crossed the six-assists mark – this time, Coby White, Zach LaVine and Thad Young. White’s 16 points and 10 assists marked his first career double-double.
And they almost broke the watermark of 35 assists from former head coach Jim Boylen. Unfortunately, they ended up with 34 cents out of 50 baskets made. And had seven doubles players for the second game in a row.
Of course, it was against a leaking Wizards defense. But after the way the Bulls’ first three games went, they’ll take it.
Floating bulls
Responsiveness to adversity was a common topic of discussion around Billy Donovan Zooms at the start of this season. The Bulls have taken a step in the right direction on that front in this one.
First, consider the Q2 example from Gafford’s blurb above. Then came the 10-2 run that the Wizards opened the second half with, to which the Bulls responded by edging the hosts 34-22 in the final nine minutes of the quarter.
More chin hits came in the fourth, as the Wizards warmed up to 3 and steadily came to the foul line. The closing minutes of it featured plenty of header changes, with the Bulls trailing five with four minutes to go.
But it ended in victory. LaVine had timely buckets (10 points in Q4 overall); in fact, he, White and Porter combined to ice the contest with free throws. And the Bulls’ backcourt, often criticized for defensive shortcomings, made some solid fights in consecutive Westbrook and Beal layup attempts in the dying seconds.
All in all, a night to feel good. This team was 3-18 after wins in the 2019-20 season. Go 1-0 for 2020-21 for now.
Next: in Milwaukee to face the Bucks on New Years Day.
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