Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu knew the stakes were high heading to their Monday night match-up against the Atlanta Hawks. The Bulls were coming off a crushing overtime loss to the Orlando Magic, and their match-up against the Hawks wasn’t any easier as it pitted them against a team that had won six of their previous eight games.
Making things worse was the absence of Alex Caruso, who sat out the game versus Atlanta because of a sore foot. This meant many responsibilities were on the shoulders of Dosunmu, the second-round pick making waves with his impressive play this season, and he showed up big time.
Career-high performance
The former Illinois star was magnificent, finishing with 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also had seven assists, a steal, and a block in 39 minutes, leading the Bulls to a much-needed 136-126 victory over the Hawks.
Dosunmu’s performance was nothing short of spectacular as he dazzled with his scoring abilities and playmaking skills. He attacked the rim fearlessly and finished strong at the basket. But his outside shooting caught everyone's attention, as he knocked down multiple three-pointers to keep the Hawks defense on their toes.
‘‘Very important,” Dosunmu said when asked about the victory.
“Right behind us in the standings, and we understand that this stretch and then coming out of the All-Star break is going to be very crucial. Every game is going to count. We let one get away [Saturday] in Orlando, so we knew we had to come out here and find a way by any means to get the win.’’
Dosunmu’s performance on Monday is only a page in what has been the best chapter of his career so far. In the Bulls’ last 14 games, Dosunmu is averaging 15.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game, proving he’s capable of filling part of the void left by All-Star Zach LaVine, who’s out for the season due to a foot surgery.
Two-way play
Dosunmu’s work on offense wasn’t the only thing that garnered attention; he also defended Hawks All-Star Trae Young ferociously, helping to limit him to only 19 points on 3-of-14 shooting. Young, who was recently named a replacement to the All-Star Game in Indiana, came into the game averaging over 27 points per game.
“He’s one of the better guards in the league,” Dosunmu said.
“My length is able to affect him, but he’s a good player. He brings competitiveness out. I love competing against him because every play you’ve got to be ready. I love it. This is my third year now, so we’ve had a lot of battles.”
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