Chicago, Feb. 2 (BUS): DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points in the game, Zach Lavigne added 24 points, while the Chicago Bulls beat the Orlando Magic 126-115 on Tuesday night.
DeRozan scored 20 of his points in the first half, and the Bulls then escaped a frantic dash from the Magic midway through the fourth quarter, the AP reports.
Wendell Carter Jr. scored 24 points to lead the Magic, 11 of them in the first quarter.
The Bulls, who were leading 113-103 with 7:38 remaining in the game, failed to score a field goal in the next four minutes. The Magic tied the match, but LaVine’s baseline shot with 3:35 left cut the Bulls dry and enabled them to reclaim a 117-115 lead.
Ayo Dosunmo hit two shots to highlight the 11-0 run to end the match.
The bulls won four of the last five. Magic dropped four of the last six.
DeRozan has scored 70 points in his last two matches against Magic.
The Bulls led the Magic by nine on three occasions in the third quarter, most notably a lackluster shot by DeRozan with seven seconds left to lead to 103-94.
Kobe White and DeRozan baskets enabled the bulls to lead for the first time in double digits to open the fourth quarter.
Orlando fired 60.9% in the first quarter and made 28 of 50 shot attempts in the first half. But Magic didn’t fire a first free throw until the remaining 3:17 in the second quarter, when Cole Anthony hit a shot to complete a three-point play.
The Bulls went 7-2 in the final 1:09 to take 70-63 in the first half. Anthony’s technical foul was assessed after he was suspended over the edge for too long after being dunked by a missed shot.
DeRozan added two baskets, including a three-point play with 36.6 left, and Carter. The son was called for a technical procedure after throwing the ball against the prop.
The Bulls avenged their 114-95 loss to the Magic on January 23 and won the season series 3-1.
Hint
The Magic: Anthony and rookies Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are named to the Rising Stars game on February 18 in Cleveland, which features the first and second year’s best players. Coach Jamal Mosley believes the honor will also be a learning experience over the weekend. “You listen to other vets talking about their experiences,” Mosley said. “And so it’s great that these guys feel a part of that and have that understanding in the league as they grow up.”
Bulls: Coach Billy Donovan said Jafonte Green was out of play for up to 30 minutes. Green copes with aching ankle. … Dosunmu has been selected for Rising Stars. Donovan said, “He will learn something from it, and I think it will always be something he will always do. It’s just kind of his personality.” …should the Bulls hold the best record in the Eastern Conference through Sunday, Donovan Wu;; Darb Al Sharq in the All-Star Game February 20.
“It’s such an honor to be able to do something like this,” Donovan said. “I think he’s talking to the guys on the team. It’s probably something we all share because you had to finish first in the East.”
next one
Magic: In Indiana on Thursday night.
Bulls: In Toronto on Friday night.