With XXL Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls come alive against the overpriced Warriors

The end of a bad series BullsAfter three consecutive defeats, they succeeded again, and after a huge offensive match, they offered the final champion (132-118) at home, which ended the week ideally.

In his absence DeMar DeRozanrested for the second straight game due to thigh pain Nikola Vucevic Who took over the reins of the offense: 43 points on 18/31 shooting! That tied his career high against the Bulls in February 2021, when he was still playing with the Magic. Paced by the Montenegro pivot, the entire Illinois team finished with a 51% shooting percentage.

In front of, Warriors They finished the game with 49% shooting, including 41% (21/51!) from behind the arc. But teammates Stephen Curry actually spoiling that grand total with 23 turnovers, which resulted in 31 points for the Bulls! With a final margin of 14 points in an otherwise fairly balanced offensive matchup, it hurts.

The Bulls are thus brimming with confidence before heading to our beloved capital to take on the Pistons there on Thursday evening, while the Warriors must continue their relentless streak in Boston and then Cleveland over the next few days before taking on Brooklyn…

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– A series of “runs”, then the fatal blow of the Bulls. The first three quarters really offered a few twists. It was a huge start for the Bulls, who opened their offense without a drag and took a 15-point lead at the end of the first quarter (35-20). Then, like good title holders, the Warriors responded with fury in the next act, to control the score 42-24 (62-59) at the break! After returning from the locker room, the Bulls regained their composure and offense, winning by 9 points in the third quarter before going into the final quarter (92-86). However, “Vooch” and his teammates took home the points and scored 40 points to secure the victory, and the match was decidedly not defensive.

– Nikola Vucevic’s “old” performance. First game of 40 or more points in Chicago for Nikola Vucevic, who also grabbed 13 rebounds to cap an XXL performance. and-pop”. Because it’s really in these patterns that the Bulls’ pivot has done the most damage: scoring 26 of 43 points against players smaller than him in the paint and behind the screen arc (5/10), taking advantage of the Warriors’ defensive hesitations to draw shamelessly. The often forgotten big of the Bulls offensive trio, “Vooch” had fun and remembered the feeling of being the No. 1 offensive player one evening.

TOPS & FLOPS

✅ Zach LaVine. Solid play from the back of the Bulls, who willingly left the offensive reins to Nikola Vucevic to shine in the lieutenant role. With 27 points (7/18 shooting, including 1/8 from behind the arc, but 12/14 on free throws), 9 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and a counter, he effectively assured.

✅ Alex Caruso. The Warriors, who have struggled on the floor lately and have been involved in transfer rumors as the “deadline” nears, especially interested in the… Bulls’ “combo guard,” has regained some composure and confidence, with a good all-around performance on five bases: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals and a team best +/- +24.

✅ Jordan Poole. The Warriors’ sixth man shot less than usual, and he was very efficient and alert (15 points on 5/8). He also added 2 rebounds, 3 assists (but 4 turnovers) and 2 interceptions, offering good inputs for his team in the role of a true Swiss army knife whose effectiveness depends less on his sole shooting ability.

✅⛔️ “Splash Brothers”. Stephen Curry (20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists) and Klay Thompson (26 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists) have mixed feelings. There is statistical production, but not efficiency: the former lost 8 balls for only 4 passes, the latter insisted on spraying behind the arc, even if he was effective in this area in the absolute sense (8/15), without trying to change.

NEXT

– Taurus (20-24): It travels to Paris to face the Pistons there on Thursday night at 9:00 p.m.

– Warriors (21-22): “back” in Washington (pat 9).