For the second time this year, the Chicago Bulls have won three games in a row.
Besting the Atlanta Hawks 152-150, the Bulls have improved to 13-15 as they continue their timeless pursuit of Play-In glory.
Putting up a remarkable 83 points in the first half, the highest scoring first half in franchise history, per Basketball-Reference, the Bulls offense was rolling. They racked up 21 assists, while shooting 12-of-24 from three and 61 percent from the field.
While the offense was humming, the defense was not. Giving up 73 in the first half kept the Hawks in the game, and allowed for their third quarter surge, cutting the lead from ten to one heading into the fourth.
Credit to the Bulls for taking care of business in the fourth, as they targeted Trae Young relentlessly. Whether it was Coby White or Josh Giddey, the Bulls sought out Young in screening actions to draw switches, allowing them to get into the paint where they were able to get to the rim, the line, or spray it out for three.
152 ties the second-most points the Bulls have ever scored in regulation, per Basketball-Reference.
As well as the Bulls shot it from three (48 percent), the Hawks were even better (49 percent). But thanks to the Bulls having more attempts at the free throw line (39 for the Bulls to 32 for the Hawks), and more offensive rebounds (11 for the Bulls to six for the Hawks).
Matas Buzelis followed up his 24-point performance in Cleveland, with 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting. He started the game 9-of-9 and 6-of-6 from three. He sets a new season-high of 28, and scores 20 or more in back-to-back games for the first time his his young career. Despite his scoring outburst, Buzelis sat the final 2:30 as Billy Donovan looked for a more defensively oriented lineup with Isaac Okoro, Nikola Vucevic, Tre Jones, Giddey and White. Buzelis returned to the game with 41.5 seconds to play after Okoro fouled out.
Depth was again crucial for the Bulls, with nine different players scoring in double-figures.
Up next: The Bulls will face Atlanta again on Tuesday for the second of their baseball set.
Tune into the CHGO Bulls postgame live:
Why does it feel like everything is either working perfectly for the Bulls or nothing is?
Over the course of this season, the Bulls have won five-straight, gone on a five-game and a seven-game losing streak en route to a 4-14 stretch, and now won three-straight after beating the Hawks.
Perhaps reductive, the Bulls and their opponents’ three-point shooting splits tell the story well.
In October, the Bulls shot 40.2 percent while their opponents shot 30.1 percent and the Bulls went 5-0. In November, the Bulls shot 36.4 percent, opponents shot 37.3 percent and the Bulls went 4-10. So far in December, the Bulls are shooting 32 percent while opponents are shooting 39.2 percent and the Bulls are 1-5. Now, through their last three wins, the Bulls are 42.6 percent and their opponents are 39.2 percent.
Make or miss league, yes. But the Bulls can’t control whether or not the ball goes in. They have a lot of work to do when it comes to generating the right shots through playing with pace, tempo and downhill aggression. If they can do that more consistently, maybe they’ll start making more shots consistently too.
Was that Bulls vs. Hawks or a modern era NBA All Star Game? Same difference. The Bulls and Hawks really took their usual “let’s not play any defense” pregame agreement to a whole new level, didn’t they?
Speaking of scoring points…MATAS. FREAKING. BUZELIS. As of this typing, with 8:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, the young dude is 9-10 from the field, including 6-7 from downtown. A couple of dunks and a great juke move drive to the hoop. No mid-range shots yet, which some of us still want to see him create for himself. I’ll keep patiently waiting on that, but will happily take any game where Buzelis’ offensive potential shines.
Another game — third-in-a-row — with 34 or more team assists. Also their third-straight game with at least seven players in double figures. Did the Bulls’ offensive balance return with some of their injured players returning to action? Perhaps. Can they keep showing it as they face better defenses after doing so against the Evan Mobley-less Cavs and the no-defense Hawks? We’ll find out.
Oh, and most importantly: F the Packers Always. Bear. The. F. Down.
Did you see the Bears game?!?!?!? LFG!!!!!!
The Bulls and Hawks ALWAYS played crazy games and this one is no different.
Defense in this one was optional.
Hot start by the Bulls. 14 assists in the first quarter alone. That kids, is crazy.
Bears.
BUZELIS. Man it feels good watching bawl like this. Gives me hope for his future for sure.
Buzelis looked comfortable but he wasn’t the only one. Bulls on offense were outstanding as a team. They couldn’t miss. But they couldn’t stop the Hawks (not like the Hawks were any better) so the game was kept close because of that.
BEARS. Ben Johnson. Caleb Williams. BEARS.
— Big Dave
