The Chicago Bulls’ season has lived to fight another day after pulling off an astounding, 19-point comeback against the Raptors at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena to win 109-105.
Zach LaVine was sensational for Chicago finishing with 39 points and six rebounds on 12-of-22 shooting.
The two-time All-Star proved a major catalyst in the team’s revival dropping 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting the third quarter before adding another 13 in the fourth on 6-of-6 from the stripe.
DeMar DeRozan – who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Raptors – added 23 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks whilst Nikola Vučević put up a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams provided the Bulls with a tonne of activity defensively combining for five blocks and five steals.
The first half belonged the Raptors who capped the opening 24 minutes off with a successful halfcourt heave courtesy of Fred VanVleet to take an 11-point lead into the intermission.
The lead ballooned out to 19 mid-way through the third before the Bulls’ fightback began.
They wrestled the lead off Toronto with 5:07 remaining and finished on top after going blow-for-blow for the final five.
Toronto’s free-throw shooting proved their Achilles’ heel hitting on just 18 of their 36 attempts.
Despite dominating the boards battle 70 to 45, Toronto was outscored in the paint and shot a lower percentage from the field.
Pascal Siakam led the way for them finishing with 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists whilst VanVleet added 26 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists on 7-of-13 from downtown.
Scottie Barnes finished with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double whilst O.G. Anunoby added 13 points and four rebounds.
The Bulls will now travel to Miami on Saturday with the winner advancing to face Milwaukee in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Toronto, meanwhile, enter what could prove to be a decisive offseason with rumblings that head coach Nick Nurse could move on growing louder.
