The Bulls confirm their good form at the moment. After their victories against the Celtics, then against the Bucks, before a defeat at OKC which almost made a stain, they continued with a new success against a team with a positive balance sheet, the Jazz. The latter, at this rate, should not stay long beyond 50% of victories…
After a first quarter ended in a perfect tie (27-27), the Jazz, carried by a Lauri Markkanen on fire, began to come off the score, offering their biggest gap (49-38). Thanks to several 3-point baskets from Coby White, the Bulls managed to close the gap at the break (60-53).
With the rise of DeMar DeRozan in the third act (12 points and 3 assists) and a more diligent defense, the Bulls took control by signing a 10-0 in the period to turn in the lead, with two possessions of advance (80-86), before the last act.
With more concentrated substitutes, like Andre Drummond in the first minutes of the fourth quarter, the visitors beat the locals to take a 12-point lead (82-94). It took Kelly Olynyk to wake up to keep the Jazz in the game (99-102) but DeMar DeRozan was very solid in the final moments. Where Utah has missed eight of its last ten shots…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The victory despite three times less than 3-pointers. The Bulls were inspired by their leader DeMar DeRozan to win: no need to punish behind the arc to be efficient. Chicago, one of the teams with the fewest 3-pointers in the league on average, has converted only six long shots where their opponents have scored three times as many. This colossal gap was not fatal, however, because the Bulls obtained and scored many more free throws and above all dominated the points in the racket (64 points scored, 20 more than the Jazz)
– Jazz excluded from the Top 8. It’s simply the first time this season for Utah. With this current series of five defeats in a row, the Jazz now occupy 9th place in the West, behind Warriors in better shape and more ambitious teams (Wolves, Mavs and Lakers). It should be noted, however, that the differences are minimal between this 9th place and the 3rd for example (“1.5” match difference). We recall that there is still about a week, the Jazz was number 1 of its conference.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Lauri Markkanen – Kelly Olynyk. The former signed a dream first half with 24 points scored (career record in a half) by scoring “catch-and-shoot” on “catch-and-shoot” behind the arc. Starting on these huge offensive bases against his former team, he was much more discreet thereafter. And it was his racket buddy who took over by scoring… all of his 23 points after the break! The Canadian was particularly aggressive in the last quarter, where his team needed it the most. The two men have accumulated a very good 12/21 from afar.
✅ DeMar DeRozan. He too showed two faces. At the break, he was limited to a sad 1/7 on shots. He fared much better after the change to the locker room, being the most productive in the fourth quarter as Zach LaVine hosed down. We also remember his good fixing-pass to overthrow towards Coby White, alone in the corner, for a decisive award-winning basket one minute from the end.
⛔ Jordan Clarkson. He certainly compensated for his clumsiness by an activity in creation (9 assists) and rebounds (6) but his 3/15 in shots, including 1/8 from afar, did a lot of harm to the Jazz. The other house outside gunner, Malik Beasley, also had a small evening in terms of skill (3/11 by far).
THE FOLLOWING
Jazz (12-11) : reception of the Clippers, Wednesday.
Bulls (9-11) : trip to the Suns, Wednesday.
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