Those from Chicago still can’t find their rhythm in this irregular season
DeRozan was capable of the best and the worst during the encounter
The Chicago Bulls melted this Wednesday in the last minute of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, wasting a moment of inertia in favor, and lost by 111-115 his seventh game of thirteen this year in the NBA.
DeMar DeRozan shone with 33 points for the Bulls, but the match ended in the worst way, with a lost ball 18 seconds from the end that condemned his team against the Pelicans, in which the Spanish Willy Hernangomez scored eight pointswith three rebounds and a steal in eleven minutes.
The duel at the United Center confirmed the Bulls difficulties to find continuity this season and, above all, when it comes to winning games that remain in balance until the last minutes.
The loss to the Pelicans adds to those who suffered against the Toronto Raptors in Canadain Washington against the Wizards, in San Antonio against the Spurs and at home against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Pelicans put behind them the recent losses suffered against the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks and they triumphed pushed by the 22 points of Brandon Ingramwith nine rebounds, the double double of 21 points and thirteen rebounds from Jonas Valanciunas and 19 from Zion Williamson.
the puerto rican José Alvarado contributed seven pointsthree rebounds and two assists in thirteen minutes on the court.
For the Bulls, in addition to DeRozan, Zach LaVine scored 23 points, while Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and seven rebounds. Slovenian Goran Dragic had fourteen points, with three rebounds and six assists.
DeRozan, of a spectacular mate…
It was an even game, in which the Bulls started strongly and took an early ten-point margin at 16-6 and in which DeMar DeRozan marked territory with a powerful one-handed dunk.
Ingram and Zionpowerful in his penetrations in the paint, and elegant supporting the board with his left foot, guided a strong start to the third period for the Pelicansafter the visitors went into the break two points clear.
But some spectacular ones from Goran Dragic and Javonte Green, with a great ‘alley-oop’, allowed the Bulls to keep the game in balance after trailing by nine points at 71-62.
A 20-8 Bulls run to end the third period gave Chicago a three-point lead going into the fourth.
Zion, blunt, held the Pelicansbut two consecutive triples by Vucevic unleashed the euphoria of the United Center and maintained Chicago’s lead at 103-102.
… To the decisive lost ball
With 56 seconds to play, the match was even 109-109, with the Bulls inertia in favor, but Ingram sealed two points for the Pelicans and DeRozan missed his attempt.
The Pelicans took a 112-109 lead with 18 seconds left, when Zion recorded one of two in free and the Bulls were able to plan the final play with a timeout.
But DeRozan naively lost the ball as soon as he received it and there the options of the Bulls ended, surpassed by 115-111.
The Bulls now have a balance of 6-7 and are sixth in the East, while the Pelicans are 6-5 and seventh in the West.