© Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bulls slip past the Utah Jazz 119-117
The Chicago Bulls must have a rabbit’s foot hidden on their jerseys as they survived two open three-point attempts by the Utah Jazz in the game’s dying seconds to prevail, 119-117, and improve to 30-32 for the season.
Nearly let the win slip away
The Bulls led the Jazz by as many as 12 points, but Utah fought hard and even took a 114-112 lead after Collin Sexton canned a long triple with 1:59 to go. DeMar DeRozan, who scored 17 of his 29 points in the fourth, responded by scoring five straight for a 117-114 lead. But Sexton persisted and canned two from the charity stripe to bring the Jazz to within one, 117-116.
DeRozan was then fouled hard by Sexton, which injured Bulls forward Torrey Craig took exception to. Words were exchanged, and soon thereafter, Jazz forward Jason Collins and Bulls assistant Chris Fleming got into it. When the dust settled, technical fouls were whistled on Craig, Fleming, and Collins. Utah guard Jordan Clarkson sank a free throw to tie the game up at 117-all.
DeRozan closes the deal
Undeterred by the scuffle and the long wait for his free throws, Deebo stepped to the line and calmly sank both to give the Bulls a 119-117 lead. The Jazz got two clean looks at potential game-winning triples, but Clarkson missed from the left wing, while Sexton, who had all the time in the world to calibrate his shot from the baseline after Bulls defender Alex Caruso lost his footing, missed the mark as well.
Coby White added 25 points, highlighted by seven triples and six assists. Nikola Vucevic produced another double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Alex Caruso added 11 points, four boards, four steals, and three blocks.
