Nikola Vucevic confirms his current good form, since the Montenegrin interior signed an offensive card during the Bulls' victory at Spurs (139-124). With 39 points on 16/22 shooting, adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 35 minutes, Vucevic obviously took advantage of the absence of Victor Wembanyama. This is quite simply his fifth best mark in the NBA and his second most prolific game with the Illinois franchise, behind his 43 points against the Warriors, one day in January 2023.
Seventh game in a row over 50% for the Bulls
Anchor point of the Bulls (with a big double-double average in 22 games, 20.9 points and 10 rebounds), the former position 5 of the Magic perfectly opened the way for his teammates against a Texan starting five very (too much?) small ball with Jeremy Sochan in the role of big men, in the absence of Victor Wembanyama. The Bulls, with a fifteen-point lead from the start of the first quarter, took shots all evening, finishing for the seventh time in a row above the 50% mark for shooting success (52/70 , or 57.8% against the Spurs), a record equaled in the history of the franchise. Another record equaled, this time of the season: the 73 points scored at the break.
The Spurs, who conceded a third defeat in four games, did not maintain the slightest suspense in front of their audience: Mitch Johnson's men had a small series at the start of the 3rd then the 4th quarter but they, at each time, were caught by their evening hosts. A 10th victory in 23 games acquired thanks to a well-established team (36 assists), to which Ayo Dosunmu, with a triple-double (27 points on 9/13 shots, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in 35 minutes), largely contributed .
On the Spurs side, a top scorer Keldon Johnson (28 points at 11/17), sometimes attacking the circle with his head down, and Jeremy Sochan again with a double-double (16 points at 7/14 on shots and 14 rebounds in 36 minutes) , were unable to avoid another exit from the road. Back-to-back, they will try to stop this negative spiral against the Kings while the Bulls host the Pacers on the same day.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
— Victor Wembanyama back before the weekend? After being hit in one knee, the French Spurs interior felt back pain during the trip to Phoenix on Wednesday. “Wemby”, who missed his 4th match of the season, will be re-evaluated “day after day”explains Mitch Johnson, specifying that he hoped to see him play again by Sunday for the Pelicans reception. Concerning Tre Jones, hit in the shoulder, he talks about “a few weeks” of absence.
— Sidy Cissoko still in need of playing time. The Frenchman continues to shine in the G-League but continues to polish the bench in the NBA: only two short minutes and one shot attempted (and missed) against the Bulls.
From our correspondent in San Antonio.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
