There were plenty of opportunities over the course of regulation and two overtime periods, but the Chicago Bulls (6-6) have dropped their fifth game in a row, this time to the Utah Jazz, 150-147.
Coby White made his season debut after missing the first 11 games of the season and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. Scoring on a baseline out-of-bounds play on his first play back, White had 27 points on 5-of-14 shooting and seven assists. White was exceptionally aggressive in his return, driving and drawing contact, and getting to the line where he made all 14 attempts.
Despite the fact that White hit 20 minutes, his limit, in regulation, he did come in for the final 90 seconds of the first overtime and nearly four minutes of the second overtime. He played 26 minutes total.
Josh Giddey also returned after his own two-game absence, putting up another triple-double. He scored 26 points with 12 rebounds and 13 assists. He was a little turnover happy, coughing it up six times, which allowed the Jazz to get back into the game during their third quarter run.
This is a tough way to begin the first game of a three-game road trip and the first of a five-in-seven stretch, especially after the disappointing loss to the Detroit Pistons earlier this week.
Up next: Bulls are off to Denver to face the Nuggets on Monday night.
Tune into the CHGO Bulls postgame live show:
With White and Giddey back in the lineup, we got our first look at the Bulls’ presumed closing lineup, with that backcourt joining Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic. Entering in the first half with 3:05 to go, the unit won their minutes 14-12.
Though there isn’t a legitimate reason to be concerned about White fitting back into the rotation, the question of floor spacing, particularly when White has the ball and Giddey is out of the action, is a valid one.
On one of those possessions, Giddey set up in the dunker spot — a different wrinkle than what typically takes place. On this play, White drew a foul, but this should theoretically be a good use of Giddey’s skill set: have him ducking into the lane and using his size to finish or spray out to shooters.
To Giddey’s credit, in addition to improving as a shooter, he is also doing a fantastic job moving away from the ball, floating into space, attacking the glass and generally doing things that force defenses to keep track of him.
Donovan went to other variations for the fourth quarter as he struggled to come up with solutions for Lauri Markkanen (47 points), and with Buzelis fouling out, the Bulls didn’t have another opportunity to give that unit an extended run.
— Will Gottlieb
SO GOOD to see White back on the floor. Even better to see him drill a catch-and-shoot corner three 12 milliseconds after checking into the game. Even even better to see him be so aggressive attacking with the ball in his hands. His drive into the paint that resulted in a kick-out to a wide-open Patrick Williams, who cashed a three…beautiful. White recognizing that Ace Bailey picked him up in transition, and drove right into the young fella to hand him his fourth foul…in the second quarter. Brilliant.
Billy Donovan staggered White and Giddey for most of the night, which is understandable given White coming off the bench and playing with a 24-minute limit. But I’m very excited to see White get back into the starting lineup soon, to see if he and Giddey can pick up where they left off with some great offensive chemistry late last season.
Markkanen, man…what a player. Sad he’s not a Bull anymore, and hope he gets to play on a legitimate contender soon. He deserves it.
Liked seeing Buzelis making big plays on both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter of a tight game. Donovan has been sitting him on the bench for most of the fourth quarter in several games of this mini “slump” from Buzelis. He needs to be on the floor late, making plays.
— Matt Peck
I kind of want to write this whole thing about Markkanen and how proud and happy I am of him. His development has been great. Glad he’s where he needs to be.
Coby. MF’n. White. It feels good to say that and watch him play. He was aggressive. He got to the line SIX times in the 1st half. He won’t be coming off the bench for long.
LAURI!
Having Giddey back was HUGE as well. His ability to attack the rim, find the open shooter and violently rebound is turning into a skill set the Bulls cannot do without.
Nikola Vucevic NEEDED to have a game like this. He’s been struggling the past few games. Glad he was able to showcase he’s still got the goods.
LAURI!
Julian Phillips. Nice game, sir.
Excuse me while I go watch Game 6 and bathe in Jazz fans’ tears. Or maybe I’ll watch the Flu Game. Or maybe the ’97 Finals. So many memories. So many tears.
LAURI!
— Big Dave
