Right off the bat, the Lonzo Ball-Zach LaVine duo tried to take matters into their own hands by focusing on pace and speed, but the Sixers responded by relying on their physique. Back after a wrist scare, Furkan Korkmaz kicks in quickly, and after three award-winning baskets, he helps his people take control.
Opposite, the “second unit”, led by Alex Caruso, tries to move up a gear, and the former Lakers sets the tone in defense and attack, which has the gift of waking up the public of the United Center rather discreet until then. The Bulls are ahead (38-32), but Joel Embiid catches fire (20 points, 10 rebounds already at the break) and the Sixers sign a 15-0 to join the locker room with 10 points ahead (57-47). Author of a huge hook in the face of Lonzo Ball, Embiid came very close to expulsion …
The Bulls are tightening the screw in defense, and there is a heavyweight duel between Joel Embiid and Nikola Vucevic. We even hear them speaking in French, which adds spice to this confrontation. Zach LaVine has a few good streaks, and the Bulls sign a 10-0 to take control (97-96). Embiid stops the bleeding at 3-points, and it is again Korkmaz who strikes from afar to offer a new success to the Sixers in Chicago (114-105). This is the 6th win in a row for Philly despite a ton of absentees …
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Le retour de Furkan Korkmaz. The shooter did not go by half measures. Came into play after five minutes, the former Banvit artillery from afar and helped his team to make the break in the first period. With 4 banderillas converted on 5 attempts in the first period, he asserted himself as the number one scoring option out of the bench for Doc Rivers’ team. With a growing defensive involvement, the Turk sees his influence grow.
– The Bulls’ “all-terrain press”. Alex Caruso joined Chicago to lead the way in defense, and he quickly became one of his team’s defensive stalwarts. Applied throughout the second half to make an all-terrain press on the opposing ball, he gives extra energy to his team, and his fighting spirit has won over the public of the United Center in no time.
– 18 offensive rebounds for the Bulls… for nothing! With Tony Bradley (5 takes), Derrick Jones Jr. (3 takes) and Nikola Vucevic (2 takes), the Bulls dominated under the boards, but they failed to capitalize. Instead of pulling the ball out for awkward exteriors, Chicago had the option of going back to the circle. But the scarecrow Joel Embiid intimidates.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Joel Embiid. The Cameroonian pivot has done an XXL job. In painting in defense but also in attack, the All-Star pivot dominated his French-speaking opponent Nikola Vucevic. His first half is remarkable even if he grazed the correctional with his right swinging in the face of Lonzo Ball. Less in sight in attack in the second half, he scored the 3-point which stopped the Bulls’ comeback.
✅ Furkan Korkmaz. 25 points, 6 rebounds and 7 award-winning shots, his career record. The Turk compensated for the absence of Tobias Harris by lining up the shots from a distance, but also by showing envy in defense. The Sixers sixth man spent 32 minutes on the floor, and it’s a very pleasant surprise for Philly this season.
⛔Nikola Vucevic. 11 points, 11 rebounds but a mediocre 5/16 on shots for the Montenegrin pivot who had great difficulty in containing Embiid. Often passed in defense, the former Magic did not have an easy Saturday night, and he’s still looking for his place in the Bulls’ offense.
THE 1000E OF DOC RIVERS
A native of Chicago, Doc Rivers smiled after the game, and for a very personal reason: by recording his 1,000th career victory, the Sixers technician became the 10th most successful coach in NBA history. Along with Gregg Popovich, he is the only coach still active to be in this Top 10.
THE FOLLOWING
Chicago (6-3) : new test for the Bulls with Monday reception of the Nets.
Philadelphia (8-2) : For the Sixers, it will be to seek a 7th victory in a row, and it will be Monday at home against New York.
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