The Chicago Bulls again pulled a win away from the jaws of defeat, defeating the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 110-107, to improve to 34-35 for the season. It was a harrowing win for Chicago as they lost a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter but rallied in the final two minutes, thanks to crucial shots from DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Nikola Vucevic.
DeRozan scored 28 points and assisted Vooch, who scored on a hook shot to put the Bulls up by three, 108-105, with only nine seconds left. Caruso then made the biggest defensive stop of the night, blocking Anfernee Simons’ game-tying triple with 2.1 ticks remaining.
Let the rope go
The Bulls had the Blazers on the ropes early in the fourth, going ahead by 15, 92-77. However, the Bulls’ missed shots and Simons’ hot shooting willed the Blazers back into the game, as they grabbed the lead, 105-102, after a triple by the latter and two free throws by Deandre Ayton.
Sensing the game was slipping out of their hands, the “King of the Fourth,” DeMar DeRozan, went to work, scoring an and-one to tie the game up at 105-all. After the two squads exchanged numerous misses, Caruso stole the ball from Dalano Banton and was fouled on his way to the basket. He made one of two to give the Bulls the lead before Vooch scored inside for a three-point lead.
Defensive stop
With only 6.1 seconds left, the Blazers still had a chance to tie the game. Unfortunately, Caruso kept in step with Simons and blocked the guard’s shot before time expired, giving the Bulls the pulse-pounding win.
Ayo Dosunmu had another fantastic game, scoring 23 points and assisting 10. Vucevic scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Onuralp Bitim and Andre Drummond contributed off the bench, scoring nine points each.
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