This was not the idea that the Chicago Bulls had when they led the East in two home games against, no less, the Brooklyn Nets and the Golden State Warriors. in full red tide, with the NBA convincing itself that the bulls are here again, the thing has not come out precisely good: from 112-138 against the Nets to 96-138, even worse, against the Warriors. Two games in which they have taken 138 points in each one, two losses for 68 total points. Followed and at home. Something that had never happened to a Conference leader in this organization system. Mind you, at 27-13, the Bulls continue to lead the East despite three losses in four games. But the danger looms: Nets and Heat are a game and a half away, Bucks 2.
And there was even more bad news: Zach LaVine deliberately fouled with 8:28 left in the first quarter because he had a lot of pain in his left knee, the one he seriously injured in 2017 with the Wolves. The atmosphere began to turn ominous and The escort is pending an MRI, but the first news seemed to rule out a serious injury. With the scare in the body, the Bulls lost 28-37 the first quarter… and 19-41 the second, a mess. The game was over at halftime: 47-78. Of course, a punch on the table for the Warriors, who the night before had been taken off the track by the Bucks. From 77-38 against Milwaukee to this 47-78 in Chicago. In other words, in 24 hours they went from losing by 39 to winning by 31 at the equator., a 70-point turnaround that is unusual, never seen, since the shot clock existed (1954-55).
The Bulls were without LaVine and are being hit by casualties, but the feeling that its defense is very light, especially inside, when the best teams in the League appear, it was reinforced in a first half that didn’t even require a stellar version of Stephen Curry, who finished the game with 19 points and 2 assists, 4/10 triples and 7/15 total shots. The worst streak of his career is still open: nine nights in a row already below 50%. The Warriors came in back to back and without Klay Thompson (he had played in Milwaukee) and Draymond Green, who continues to have muscle problems. It was a good opportunity for some Bulls… erased from the map.
At halftime, the Warriors’ recital had been based on an intense and active defense and an attack led by Andrew Wiggins (20 of his 21 points), Jordan Poole (15 of 22 total) and rookie Jonathan Kuminga, at his best level of the entire season: a lot of energy and 12 points before the break (25 with 10/12 shooting in total). The Bulls put up no resistance and folded with a crash. DeMar DeRozan only shot 10 times to the basket (17 points, 7 assists) and Vucevic finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists but he was barely able to bail out water in the zones. The Warriors distributed 39 assists to the 26 of the Bulls, they lost half of the balls (14-7), they shot better… There was no story. Relief for the visitors and anguish for the locals, who are now pending, fingers crossed, Zach LaVine’s knee.
