After two matches postponed due to the Covid-19 which prevented them from lining up enough players (up to 10 absent), the Chicago Bulls found the courts at home on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite a LeBron James in form (31 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists), the Bulls managed to win thanks to greater control in the last moments.
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While the latter had started the last minute with a point behind, DeMar DeRozan took matters into his own hands. His mid-distance shot 52 seconds from the end allowed Chicago to take the advantage (111-110). He managed his two free throws on the next action before Lonzo Ball (19 points) secured the victory two seconds from the end with two more throws (115-110). Meanwhile, the Lakers have missed their last four shots.
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“An honor to be trusted at such times”
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“It’s an honor to be trusted at such times, liked DeRozan. This causes an unparalleled adrenaline rush, which you have to try to make the most of every time you find yourself in such a situation. There really is no equivalent. “ It’s a thunderous return for DeRozan, absent for two weeks due to Covid-19. The former Toronto and San Antonio player got the green light late Saturday night to resume play on Sunday.
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Back in extremis
He had shown up that night, at 1 a.m., at the Bulls’ training center to inflict a shooting session before his return. It worked as he signed a game on 38 points (but 11/24 on shooting), driving Chicago’s success beyond his big late-game shots. DeRozan added 6 assists, 4 rebounds and an interception. Bulls side, he was well accompanied by Nikola Vucevic (19 points and 13 rebounds) but also two former Lakers, Lonzo Ball (19 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds) and Alex Caruso (17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists).
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In the absence of Davis (out a month after a knee sprain in Minneapolis two days earlier), the Lakers have recovered, in addition to LeBron James, to Carmelo Anthony (21 points) and Russell Westbrook still close to the triple double (20 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and four steals). For his second game since his return to the NBA, Isaiah Thomas scored 13 points in a rather clever team (51% of skill) but which lost too many balls (19 turnovers). “Of course we have to manage things a bit as they come, recognized Westbrook, trying to figure out how to play with the different players available. It’s like that. You just have to play hard and the rest will take care of itself. “
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With this second consecutive defeat, the Lakers continue to navigate around the 50% of wins as they have since the start of the season (16 wins-15 losses now) and could well find themselves in balance as the next match will pit them against Phoenix Suns currently in great shape. They are deprived of six players and their coach, Frank Vogel, currently in the “health and safety protocol” of the league.
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