Defense enthusiasts are not served at the start of the match at the United Center: after 4 minutes, the score is already 13-13 with a shooting success percentage of more than 70% for both teams, then 26-21 in favor of Portland after 7 minutes.
This first quarter is a real festival of attack, and at the end of it, the Blazers have a slight lead in the score (35-29), under the impetus of a high outside address (7/ 11) and a “backcourt” CJ McCollum – Anfernee Simons not come to twiddle their thumbs (17 points in total).
The Bulls, however, quickly reversed the trend: thanks to a big heat stroke from Coby White off the bench at the start of the second quarter (three winning shots in three minutes), the locals went ahead (43-42). Then begins a crossover between two formations in very great offensive success: 6 minutes from halftime, Portland is 9/15 behind the arc, Chicago at 7/14. The locals sign a very big passage as the break approaches, under the impetus of an altruistic Ayo Dosunmu and especially a DeMar DeRozan in the oven and at the mill (13 points and 8 assists). Despite 30 points from the McCollum – Simons duo, the Bulls made a first break at halftime (73-65) thanks to a huge second quarter with 44 points and a licked collective game (21 assists out of 29 baskets scored).
Upon returning from the locker room, the Bulls resume where they left off and start with a 10-3 under the leadership of Zach LaVine, and the gap increases (83-68). Billy Donovan’s men maintained this gap until halfway through the quarter, thanks this time to the contributions of Ayo Dosunmu and Javonte Green, invaluable in the shadow tasks. Despite a brief burst of pride (13-2 to return to 96-88), the Blazers are never able to endanger the Bulls and the gap goes back above 10 points at the end of the third quarter. time (104-92), thanks in particular to the big “finish” of Nikola Vucevic who validates a double-double even before the start of the last act.
A last act that will not have much flavor as the Bulls are in control. “Vooch”, Matt Thomas and Zach LaVine keep the pressure on the Portland defense, Ayo Dosunmu takes the opportunity to set his new career high in passing (11 points). CJ McCollum adds a few final baskets before joining the bench at -18, when Chauncey Billups chooses to wave the white flag and empty his bench. Chicago easily won after an allergic meeting with the defense.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The accuracy of the Bulls in attack. Who end the match with 36 assists and 7 loss of balls. An impressive ratio which shows a team sure of its strengths and precise in its offensive choices.
– Last season’s winning record equaled for Chicago. The Bulls win, with this victory, their 31st game of the season. Or their total for last season. The high level is finally back in the “Windy City”.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ The Bulls’ five major. Who scored 90 of Chicago’s 130 points. We particularly remember the two “double-doubles”, the one with 23 points and 10 assists from DeMar DeRozan and 24 points and 14 rebounds from Nikola Vucevic, and the recital of Ayo Dosunmu, who distributed 11 assists, his new record in career. All five starters finished with a positive +/-.
✅ The Blazers backcourt. CJ McCollum and Anfernee Simons compiled 50 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds and were the only ones to really bother the Bulls in their own half.
✅ Trendon Watford. Coming off the bench, the rookie from LSU was a good surprise. In a backup pivot role behind Jusuf Nurkic, he compiled 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks.
✅ Norman Powell. Sharp in the first half, after which he finished 17 points 4/4 behind the arc, he dropped in temperature after the break. He nevertheless performs a good match in attack (22 points at 7/10), completely from the “backcourt” of Portland.
⛔️ Portland’s defense in the racket. Jusuf Nurkic not really being an intimidator, and with the rookie Watford as the only interior rotation on the bench, the Blazers took a heavy hit in the racket tonight (52 points conceded). At mid-range, DeRozan and Vucevic feasted, while LaVine and Dosunmu took advantage of this defensive largesse to attack the circle in abundance.
THE FOLLOWING
Chicago (31-18): return to the United Center on Tuesday to face the Magic
Portland (21-29): “back-to-back” tomorrow at OKC
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