SALT LAKE CITY — DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points, including the go-ahead basket with one minute remaining, to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 119-117 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
Coby White scored 25 points, including seven 3-pointers, and had six assists for the Bulls, who survived a late comeback to beat Utah for the fourth straight time. Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 12 rebounds.
“We just have to stay the course, do what we have to do, get the win and keep going,” DeRozan said. “Every game is going to be difficult.”
John Collins led Utah with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Collin Sexton had 24 points and seven assists. Brice Sensabaugh added a career-high 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in his first NBA start.
Utah trailed almost the entire time for the first three quarters, but Chicago never led by more than 12 points during that stretch and left room for the Jazz to rally in the fourth. They stayed close, outscoring the Bulls 22-8 in second-chance points.
“We fought until the end,” Collins said. “Everyone mobilized. We had a lot of guys on the field, but I just feel like we made a team effort to constantly be competitive and just leave it out on the field.
Utah scored four straight baskets, keyed by 3-pointers from Sexton, for a 114-112 lead with 1:59 to play.
DeRozan converted a 3-point play a minute later to put the Bulls back in front.
Sexton and Jordan Clarkson both missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.
“Down the stretch I thought the team executed really well, we had some good looks that didn’t work out,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “That’s kind of how it goes sometimes. But overall I’m happy with the way the team played. They played very hard.
The Jazz had a chance for a game-winning basket after technical fouls on Torrey Craig and Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming, as well as Collins, following a brief scuffle near the Chicago bench. That allowed Clarkson to tie the game on a free throw with nine seconds remaining.
DeRozan advanced to the line and ultimately secured the victory with a pair of free throws on the other end.
“We have to be better in those moments,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “Not only did we lose a point on a technical foul, but we also iced our free throw shot. I give a lot of credit to DeMar for being mentally strong enough.
White scored three consecutive points in the final minute of the first quarter, sparking a 13-2 run extending into the second quarter that gave Chicago a 40-29 lead.
Utah chipped away at the deficit and cut it to 57-54 on a pair of Clarkson free throws. Vucevic and DeRozan responded with consecutive 3-pointers to keep the Jazz from getting any closer before halftime.
The Bulls made 13 3-pointers in the first half.
Five straight baskets, highlighted by 3-pointers from White and Alex Caruso, helped Chicago extend its lead to 78-68 five minutes into the third quarter.
It looked like the Bulls were on the verge of bowing out for good, but the Jazz never let it happen.
“Every aspect of the game was tough,” DeRozan said.
FOLLOWING
Chicago visits Golden State on Thursday night.
Utah visits Denver on Saturday night.
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