Presented by Nationwide Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
SALT LAKE CITY — The Chicago Bulls improved to 2-0 on their four-game road trip against Western Conference teams, beating an undermanned Utah Jazz team 119-117 Wednesday night at the Delta Center.
“They played extremely hard,” DeMar DeRozan said. “They had dogs on their team, physical, great with their hands, crashing the boards. Every aspect of the game was difficult.”
Collin Sexton’s open look at a 3-pointer at the buzzer ended after Alex Caruso appeared to be held by John Collins on the inbounds play and Caruso slipped trying to break free from Collins’ screen . Coby White contested the shot late.
Here are 10 observations:
—The Bulls posted their 21st ranking in the NBAst decisive victory, defined as any game within five points with 5 minutes or less to play. Coby White leads the NBA in plus-minus in clutch minutes, with Nikola Vucevic third and DeRozan fourth.
But the Bulls blew a 12-point lead to make it a deciding game.
“We certainly accomplished that,” a slightly disturbed Billy Donovan said after the game.
—DeRozan scored 17 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter. He entered Wednesday night ranked seventh in the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring and second in clutch scoring. DeRozan’s two free throws with 9.3 seconds left proved the winning points.
“He obviously has incredible composure and experience in these situations,” Donovan said.
DeRozan now has 36 points in the fourth quarter over the last two games.
—White picked up where he left off after scoring a career-high 37 points in Sacramento on Monday. He made his first five shots, including four deep 3-pointers, and finished with 25 points. White sank seven of the Bulls’ 17 3-pointers.
—Ayo Dosunmu continued his strong play with a season-high nine assists. Dosunmu and White form solid chemistry as the starting backcourt and consistently pushed the pace and found themselves in late situations during secondary counterattack action. The Bulls finished with 29 assists.
“I thought Ayo was really good,” Donovan said. “He just competes. He doesn’t get rattled. He keeps his cool.”
—Assistant coach Chris Fleming and Torrey Craig committed technical fouls and John Collins received one following a scuffle when Sexton fouled DeRozan to stop the clock with 9.3 seconds remaining . The ensuing free throw allowed the Jazz to tie the game before DeRozan’s game-winning free throws.
“I saw DeMar get fouled and I don’t know if he was grabbing his face or if he was holding his face,” Donovan said. “Torrey said something, he came over. I think Chris Fleming was trying to keep everyone from breaking up. And then from there it kind of escalated and I stepped in to try to break it up a little bit .
“I don’t look at it from the Utah situation at all. I look at it from our situation. And we have to be better in those moments. Not only did we lose a point on a technical foul, but we also iced our free-throw. And I give a lot of credit to DeMar for being mentally strong enough. I understand the emotion and the intensity of the games. But whether it’s complaining or to be frustrated, it doesn’t help. We need to do a better job.”
DeRozan downplayed being icy.
“I stayed locked in,” he said.
—The Jazz lead the NBA in second chance points and have remained competitive because of it. They scored 16 second-chance points before the Bulls scored first and finished with a 22-8 advantage.
“They’re our guards,” Donovan said. “When they’re going down and the shots are going up, most of the big men are often locked under the basket, so your blocking responsibility is right in front of you. Our guards are in the right zones, but they’re not hitting them enough people. And they let people pass through us, pass through us and surround us.
—The Jazz played without—deep breath here—Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks and Otto Porter Jr. They started Luka Samanic, making just his 11th NBA debut and Brice Sensabaugh, making his first NBA start. Sensabaugh set his career high in points just midway through the first quarter and finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
—Dalen Terry returned home to Phoenix for personal reasons, according to the Bulls’ public relations team. Terry did not play against the Kings in Sacramento on Monday and fell behind Onuralp Bitim and Julian Phillips in the rotation. Bitim and Phillips were the first two substitutes.
—Phillips continues to play with confidence. Although he has to let go of his propensity to foul 3-point shooters, he moves his feet well, rebounds and shoots without hesitation. He knocked down his first two 3-pointers. Help might be on the way. Before the game, Donovan said Torrey Craig could return Thursday from the knee injury that has kept him sidelined since the All-Star break.
—With 23 points and 12 rebounds, Vucevic achieved another double-double and surpassed the 15,000 point mark for his career. He is one of three active players, alongside LeBron James and Kevin Love, with at least 15,000 points and 9,000 rebounds.
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