Chicago, Dec. 30 (BUS): Zach Lavigne scored 25 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks for the second time in three nights, 131-117.
The Bulls extended their winning streak to a five-game high. The Hawks, who are playing without 15 players due to NBA health and safety protocols and injuries, lost for the fifth time in six games, according to the Associated Press.
Tre Young scored 26 points and Clint Capella added 18 points for the Hawks in the opening game of six games.
The Bulls shot 61.9% and hit a season high with 38 assists. They beat the Hawks 130-118 Monday night in Atlanta.
Lavigne punctuated his performance with a. 360 dunk which extended the bulls’ lead to 119-96 with 6:44 left. Nikola Vucevic scored 16 points and scored 20 rebounds for Chicago. Demar DeRozan scored 20 points and goalkeeper Kobe White scored 17 points and made 12 assists. Reserve goalkeeper Ayo Dosunmo converted 6 of 7 shots and finished the match with 14 points, as did Jafonte Green.
The Bulls made 40 of 43 field goal attempts in the first half (69.8%), including 6 of 10 three-point attempts.
The Bulls went 18-1 to finish the first half with a 74-53 lead. They had 24 assists in the first half without point guard Lonzo Ball, who works in health and safety protocols.
Hint
Hawks: Chris Clemons and Cameron Oliver have signed 10-day contracts. Wes Iwundu has been activated from the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocol. The Hawks have 12 players in protocols, which has kept coach Nate Macmillan playing Young, Cam Reddish, Capella and Skylar Mays, a two-way guard, for longer than he would prefer. “We don’t really have the subscriptions for them,” MacMillan said. “There are times when we have to put in four or five guys who don’t know our system. We give them basic combos.”
Bulls: Marko Simonovic entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Simonovic is the 17th Bulls player to enter protocols this season. F Patrick Williams (ligament tear) removed pins from his left wrist, but interim coach Chris Fleming didn’t know how that would affect Williams’ rehab schedule. Williams was expected to miss the regular season.
next one
Hawks: In Cleveland on Friday night.
Bulls: In Indiana on Friday.