© Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
DeMar DeRozan once again demonstrates why he's the NBA's best closer
DeMar DeRozan has built a 15-year NBA career out of hitting shots when his team needs them most. On Monday, the former USC Trojan did it again, scoring the bulk of his 33 points in the fourth to help the Bulls overcome a 22-point deficit and come away with a 113-109 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Intriguing first half
Deebo left many perplexed as he attempted only one shot in the first half. However, he explained that he wasn’t being passive. Rather, he was assessing the battleground, so to speak.
“It's just feel,” DeRozan said.
“A lot of times it's just me physically or mentally trying to either collect data of how they're playing us or trying to get guys going. Or sometimes it's just getting myself loose and going.”
However, once the fourth quarter came around, DeRozan wasted no time taking over the game. He scored 19 points in the final frame, including numerous tough baskets that helped the Bulls catch up with the Kings. Deebo ended up with 33 points, making 10 of his 12 shots from the field and 11-of-12 from the free throw line.
“Some games I feel it right away, and some games I need to ease into it. It's just me knowing myself. I knew at one point I was going to get it going,” Deebo added.
Hopes to keep the momentum going
The win was a stellar start for the Bulls on this four-game road trip, during which they’ll face Western Conference squads. After the Kings, Chicago has a back-to-back set against the Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors, teams that are in the hunt for a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
To that end, DeRozan hopes the win against Sacramento will springboard the team to success on the rest of the trip.
“This is big. We have to carry this momentum over the next game,” Deebo added.
