Disappointed with their Californian road trip, the Blazers take their game against Chicago from the right end. CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard light the first wicks from a distance and the Portland defense repels the Bulls’ assaults. Portland quickly gained 10 points but also went through a period of offensive scarcity in the middle of the period.
Coby White reduces his to -5 but Lillard goes back to work. After a dunk attempt blocked by a foul, he does justice to himself on throws but also on a stepback, with his foot on the line. Carmelo Anthony ends the period with a valid 3-pointers, this time, and the gap is large: +18 (39-21).
Zach LaVine at 0 points, it is the other Bulls who ensure in the meantime, with the veteran Thaddeus Young for example. Meanwhile, things are rolling for the Blazers with a big dunk from Derrick Jones Jr. and work near Enes Kanter’s circle. The latter was however countered by LaVine after an offensive rebound and Chicago reacted at the end of the period.
The Bulls raise the tone in defense and the address flees Portland which then shoots at 4/16 in the second quarter. Nurkic may well win in power, after the rebound, it is the teammates of Coby White and Patrick Williams who have the wind in their sails. They won the second quarter quite clearly (24-15) and came back to the score (54-45).
Zach LaVine clumsy but clutch
Both teams put the ball inside to resume action in the third quarter. Wendell Carter Jr. wins the layup by clearing Nurkic out of his way but the Bosnian pivot is well served by Lillard for the immediate reply. Robert Covington Jr. is still so clean after his three award-winning shots and a small floater while Derrick Jones Jr. gives us another aerial dunk on the transition.
But Chicago continues to nibble its delay with Zach LaVine finally hitting the target behind the arc and starting to put pressure on the defense. Carmelo Anthony does however 3/3 on 3-points to keep a safe distance but he also takes a technique for complaining too much. And, as quickly as two 3-pointers from Coby White and Garrett Temple, the Bulls are down to -4 (85-81).
Otto Porter Jr. equalized early in the period, and the Bulls even took the lead with Patrick Williams dunking and Thaddeus Young still winning low.
The tension is felt for the Blazers, led in the last two minutes. They accumulate bad choices, especially at 3-points while the young Bulls will seek points in the paint (or throws).
Exemplary rebounding, Coby White gives Chicago 6 points ahead and only Damian Lillard manages to score, throws, on the last minute and a half of play. Overall awkward, the leader yet puts Portland to -1 with 20 seconds to play and Zach LaVine, also lacking skill the whole game, returns the 3-point shot that seals the victory of the Bulls, despite a final feat from Damian Lillard at 3-points as well (111-108).
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