Strong points
- James Harden recorded his 2nd triple-double of the season with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
- The Clippers, led by Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Bulls, 112-102.
- The Bulls received some promising news as Lonzo Ball is set to return, after missing the last two years due to injury.
THE Chicago Bulls have been below the surface for much of the season, and that continues today after a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Bulls took the lead early in the game to try to send a message to the Clippers, a talented winning team. A 13-4 run in the first quarter put the Bulls up by double digits, and that lead would peak at 16 in the second half.
But Chicago has been a tournament team for most of the season, and with some injuries to key players, they have remained competitive up until that point. The Clippers, with personalities like Paul Georges, James HardenAnd Kawhi Leonardrallied to erase that 16-point deficit.
The Clippers went on an 11-0 run to open the third quarter, and before the Bulls could blink, they were on a 23-9 run. They would receive support from a variety of their stars to defeat the Bulls, 112-102.
Harden’s triple-double
James Harden recorded his second triple-double of the season in this game
If James Harden did not blow away the table with his number of points, with 14, he nevertheless recorded his second triple-double of the season. He finished the game with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, which was a key part of the Clippers’ second-half comeback.
Today’s triple-double moved Harden to 8th all-time in that category. The Clippers are now 18-2 when Harden has 10 or more assists in a game. Additionally, today’s triple-double ties him to Nikola Jokic for the third most games with 10+ assists and one or fewer turnovers this season, with seven. Tyrese Haliburton (13), Fred VanVleet (8), and Chris Paul (8) are the only players to have more.
The Clippers were led by Paul George, who led the team with 22 points. He also had nine rebounds and five assists, closing in on a double-double. Kawhi Leonard scored 19 points, along with nine rebounds and four assists. They defeated the Bulls despite their absence Russell Westbrook for the fourth consecutive match.
Ivica Zubac was a key contributor to the Clippers’ second-half comeback, as he scored 10 of his 16 points in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Norman Powell was a spark coming off the bench, scoring 18 points, including two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter to seal the deal for the Clippers.
Lonzo Ball is set to return
Despite the Bulls’ loss, they learned that Lonzo Ball could return soon
Even though the Bulls lost this game, it wasn’t terrible on all fronts. DeMar DeRozan led the entire game with 24 points, and also had eight rebounds and 10 assists. Chicago also received support from Nikola Vučević who had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Coby White who scored 19 points.
But on a broader level, the Bulls learned earlier today that long-absent star Lonzo Ball may finally be close to returning. Bulls coach Billy Donovan provided an update on Ball’s condition before the game.
“Some of the training has been really positive, like running, cutting, jumping, doing those things. So he’s been progressing in that area and responding well. With some of the things the doctors have shown me, he seems to be moving well …he worked hard to put himself in that position…he cuts, runs and does some of those things. —Billy Donovan on Lonzo Ball
The ball was played for the last time NBA game on January 14, 2022, after missing all of last season and so far this season due to recurring discomfort in his knee. Last year, he was excluded for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, but if he makes enough progress he could see some playing time.
In 2021, Ball signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Bulls. During the 2021-22 season, he played in 35 games in which he averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists. More importantly, he provided a spark for the Bulls on the court, as Chicago went 22-13 with him (compared to 24-23 without him).
The question will be whether or not Ball can return to his pre-injury form – at just 26 years old, the Bulls expect him to do so. If he makes a miraculous comeback this season, he could help the Bulls in the play-in tournament.
However, the likely outcome is that he makes a full recovery and is ready for the 2024-25 season, at which point the Bulls could be competitive – only time will tell at this point.
