Ayo Dosunmu was the first to show he was up for the challenge. The Chicago Bulls combo guard scored 7 of the team’s first 9 points, leading the way for a strong first half on both ends of the court. While the Kings clearly had the talent advantage, one key area the Bulls needed to exploit was their porous perimeter and transition defense. Dosunmu targeted that repeatedly in the first two quarters, driving at full speed almost every time he got his hands on the ball in the backcourt.
Coby White was the second to show up to the party. With the team down by 14 heading into the second quarter, White took charge. He finished a quick layup before splashing a 3-pointer in transition two possessions later. White would then finish a monstrous dunk poster on Harrison Barnes during the next trip on the ground. His 7-0 individual run brought the Bulls back within striking distance. And it also officially brought him out of his recent shooting slump.
White would finish the quarter with 13 points, meaning he and Dosumu combined for 28 points on 12-16 shooting in the first half. If literally anyone else could have offered a helping hand, the Bulls would probably find themselves in the lead. Instead, the Sacramento Kings’ well-balanced offense continued to overshadow the Bulls, and they entered the locker room with a 56-49 lead that only grew.
The Kings went on a 23-9 run largely thanks to a series of three-pointers to start the quarter. As we watched them close to their 22-point lead, smells of the Bulls’ second-half collapse against the Bucks were in the air. Not only were they behind in turnovers and struggling to keep pace defensively, but frustration seemed to be building. Fortunately, things didn’t escalate the way they did this weekend, but the Bulls still suffered a 91-77 deficit heading into the final quarter of the game.
In my notes for this game at halftime, I noted “only if DeMar DeRozan had a normal game.” Once again, it felt like we couldn’t ask for much more from Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White. The two young guards kept the Bulls alive as long as they could, but the team ultimately won’t come away victorious without at least one extra helping hand. DeRozan was a rare no-show, making only ONE field goal attempt in the entire first half.
But then the horns sounded.
As the first second ticked off in the fourth quarter, a crown materialized on DeRozan’s head and a scepter appeared in his hand. The 15-year pro scored 19 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, which included a stretch where he had 11 straight points from 10:22 to 6:49. At this point, the Bulls were back to 9 points.
Ayo Dosunmu officially made another game-clinching game-break for Chicago with a corner 3-pointer at the 4:36 mark. I was absolutely convinced that we were still waiting for another classic Bulls loss, but the Kings continued to shoot themselves in the foot. Domantas Sabonis would commit a foul with just under 3 minutes remaining. Sacramento only scored one point over the rest of the game, while Coby White eventually scored hitting consecutive buckets that would first tie things up before giving Chicago the lead with 47.1 seconds remaining.
Once the final buzzer sounded, White and Dosunmu embraced with a 113-109 victory on the scoreboard. Part of me really wants to roll my eyes. It’s hard to remember how many times we’ve seen the Bulls lose by 20+ points and come back strong for a heart attack-inducing finish. Enough already! Not to mention it’s difficult not thinking that every win like this could only further fuel the front office’s ego.
However, a bigger part of me is just in awe. Did the Kings spoil this game? 100 per cent. We shouldn’t act like the Bulls don’t have help. But the fact that they won this game with young performers like White and Dosunmu playing crucial roles should give us real hope for the future. These two have made leaps and bounds this season, and this match feels like any other.
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