© Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine combine for 71 to lead the Chicago Bulls to a win vs. Utah Jazz
The Chicago Bulls have never been closer to consistency.
Following their 126-118 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, the Bulls have now won three straight to improve to 19-21 on the season. As the team creeps around the final playoff spot, the signs of a turnaround have finally started to show.
Here are three takeaways from yesterday's win:
4th quarter comeback
The Bulls were down 99-92 with 9:34 left in the fourth quarter. Coby White and Patrick Williams then scored Chicago's next 11 points to put their team ahead 103-101.
The Bulls' Big Three took over from there.
DeMar DeRozan (mid-range jumper), Zach LaVine (three straight 3s), and Nikola Vucevic (layup) combined for 13 points over the stretch to secure a 10-point lead with 4:36 left. The Jazz cut the lead down to five, but LaVine and DeRozan were able to seal the game from the free-throw line and secure a win on the second night of a back-to-back.
LaVine and DeRozan combine for 71
Coming off a 41-point performance in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers, Zach LaVine continued his hot streak as he dropped 36 points on 6-of-12 from long range. DeMar DeRozan bounced back from Friday's 12-point outing and finished with 35 against the Jazz.
This was the first time this season the two both scored 30 or more in a single game. It was also one of their best clutch performances thus far—DeRozan had 15 in the 4th; LaVine added 12.
“We still got a ways to go," DeRozan said about the dynamic between the two. “That's the crazy part. We knew it was going to come at some point, understanding our spots and understanding moments in the game when it's time to be aggressive.”
Markkanen's dunk over Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. However, his great all around performance was overshadowed by a single game highlight that featured former Bull Lauri Markkanen.
The Jazz forward put up team-high 28 points on 12-of-20 from the field. He also had eight dunks, but none more impressive than his posterizing slam over Vucevic.
In the end, it was Vucevic who had the last laugh as the Bulls swept the season series aginast Markkanen and the Utah Jazz.
