For the second time this season, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Charlotte Hornets 104-91 on Friday, January 5, at the United Center.
The Bulls were led by a five man balance scoring attack from guard Coby White, who scored 22 points, forward DeMar DeRozan added 17 points, guard Zach LaVine finished with 15 points [off the bench], guard Ayo Dosunmu contributed with 12 and center Nikola Vucevic scored 11 points in his return.
Both LaVine and Vucevic returned on Friday night after missing several weeks due to injury. LaVine spoke to the Crusader and said that the game is much easier for everybody when there is balance scoring on the floor.
“I think it’s much easier for everybody,” said LaVine to the Crusader after scoring 15 points in limited minutes off the bench (both LaVine and Vucevic came off the bench and combined for 26 points in the victory). “It’s not a burden to try and go out there (and) get somebody to score 25 or 30 every night.”
Although both LaVine and Vucevic would combine for 26 points off the bench, the team contributed the additional 78 points in the victory.
According to Bulls PR, Chicago outshot Charlotte, 54 percent to 40 percent from the field. The group added, the team outshot their opponent in back-to-back home games and are 9-3 at home when outshooting their opponent this season. The group said the team recorded a season-high 25 fastbreak points, marking only the third time this season that the team have recorded 20 or more points in transition in a single game.
Final Score: Bulls 104, Hornets 91
With the victory, the Bulls improved to 16-21 on the season and will play their next game on Monday, January 8, versus the Charlotte Hornets on the road. Game time 6 p.m.
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
