The Chicago Bulls have already been dealing with injuries to key players like Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, and Zach LaVine, who are sidelined.
Follow Us
The Chicago Bulls have already been dealing with injuries to key players like Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, and Zach LaVine, who are sidelined for the rest of the season. So, when guard Coby White was sidelined with a right hip strain last week, the team was well-prepared to handle it.
With Coby White out, Ayo Dosunmu stepped up big time. Following his impressive 34-point, nine-assist game against the Washington Wizards last Saturday, Dosunmu continued his stellar performance by scoring 23 points and dishing out 10 assists in the Bulls’ 110-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. This marked their league-leading 24th clutch victory of the season.
Chicago (34-35), set to take on the Houston Rockets (33-35) on Thursday, had a 14-point lead going into the fourth quarter but had to fight to hold on till the end. Their ability to perform well in close games, especially when the margin is within five points with less than five minutes left, shows that the Bulls excel under pressure in the final moments.
For the Rockets, Adams, Eason, Sengun, and Whitmore will not be playing the game. As for the Bulls, Ball, Drummond, LaVine, Phillips, and Williams will be sitting this one out. Besides, Caruso and White are also questionable for the game.
Veteran DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 28 points and played a whopping 40 minutes, showcasing his importance to the team amidst the wave of injuries. At 34 years old and in his 15th season, DeRozan leads the NBA in averaging 37.7 minutes per game. His consistent performance, even with such a heavy workload, has been crucial in keeping the Bulls in the playoff race.
The Rockets kept their hot streak going on Tuesday, cruising past the Wizards with a 137-114 win. It marked their eighth victory in nine games and their fifth straight win on the road. Before this recent stretch, Houston had only won five road games all season.
Jalen Green has been the driving force behind the Rockets’ winning streak. In the last nine games, Green has been putting up impressive numbers, averaging 26.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, with just 1.7 turnovers. He’s been shooting .500 from the field, .400 from beyond the arc, and .805 from the free-throw line during this stretch. Green has been even more effective since center Alperen Sengun got sidelined with knee and ankle injuries four games ago.
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
