Giddey injured in Bulls win over Raptors |
TORONTO—Nothing has come easy for the Chicago Bulls (12-15) this season, and yet here they are, still in the middle of the play-in race. What makes this season especially strange for the Bulls is that they are an above-.500 team on the road and have been one of the worst teams at home. Typically, that doesn't bode well for a team's long-term success, but the Bulls are making it work right now.
After playing one of the toughest schedules over a three-week stretch, the Bulls have finally gotten some rest, and the results have shown. The Bulls have played better in recent games. Their most recent victory came against the Toronto Raptors on Monday when the Bulls overcame a late-game comeback effort to win 122-121. Considering the Bulls were down Zach Lavine and saw Josh Giddey leave with an ankle injury, this was actually a very solid win. The Bulls are finding ways to get it done, with several players stepping up when needed. After missing their last game due to an illness, Nikola Vucevic was back in the lineup, and he didn't miss a beat. Chicago was happy to have their big man back. He led the Bulls with 24 points, but he only pulled down five boards, one of his lowest totals of the season. With Lavine out of the lineup, it was up to other guys to step up, and one of those guys was Coby White, who has been struggling to shoot the ball in recent games. Those struggles continued at times in this one, but with 3-7 from distance, he still managed to finish with 19 points as he continues to play well. Ayo Dosunmu filled in for Lavine and picked up 12 points, but it was Giddey's game that was the real story, as he was on pace for another massive triple-double. Giddey eventually went down with an ankle injury and didn't return, but in his 23 minutes, he scored 11 points, dishing out eight assists and pulling down nine rebounds. Throughout the season, Giddey has been one of the Bulls' better players, as he is as good as anyone when dialed in. Not only did the Bulls have four starters in double figures, but they also had three players coming off the bench with double figures, as balanced scoring was the key to this team's success. Talen Horton-Tucker continues to be one of the season's best stories for the Bulls, as he saw extended minutes with Giddey going down. Horton-Tucker was seen as a training camp body this offseason, and he not only made the team but is playing significant minutes. He led the Bulls bench with 15 points, anchored by an impressive reverse alley-oop from Lonzo Ball, as his great season continued. Julian Phillips and Jalen Smith chipped in 10 points each off the bench, with Ball and Matas Buzelis rounding out the Bulls, scoring eight and seven points off the bench. Like the Bulls, Toronto had plenty of scoring threats, but none were as good as RJ Barrett. Since being traded to his hometown team, Barrett has not only come into his own but has also been one of the better players in the league. He continued to show that with a game-high 32 points and dished out nine assists to help pace the offense. Barrett wasn't the only Raptor making a significant impact as Gradey Dick got in on the action with 27 points as he continues to improve from one game to the next. Ochai Agbaji made it three Raptors starters in double figures with 15 points, but when your other two starters only combine for 10 points, you're putting yourself in a tough spot. The Raptors bench did their best to keep Toronto in the game, and for the most part, they did, with Chris Boucher coming away with a massive 11-point and 10-rebound performance. Jamal Shead also had a solid game, scoring 10 points. Still, it wasn't enough to top the Bulls, who have now won two straight and are creeping closer to .500. Chicago will continue to get some extra rest between games, which this team can desperately use as they are gearing up for a home-and-home with the Boston Celtics to end the week.
