Bulls

On a day fraught with drama, Bulls snapped a four-game losing streak with a much-needed win over their rival Miami Heat.

Drummond has been on the outside looking in of the Bulls' rotation as Donovan has turned to small-ball reserve lineups of late, but if Green and/or Jones Jr.'s absences extend, he could find himself with a role again (he played seven second-half minutes in this one). White, of course, supplied some sparkplug scoring by draining three 3-pointers in the first half and finishing with 14 points (although he finished 3-for-10 from the field). When Herro slid over from the corner to help LaVine's defender (Robinson), LaVine deftly kicked to an open Vučević in the corner instead of forcing up a contested look — Vučević scored the Bulls' first eight points of the game and nine in the third quarter, frequently burrowing inside for buckets over smaller defenders; eventually, that scoring led to increased defensive attention that opened up clean looks for his teammates. After a Herro 3-pointer put the Heat ahead 60-52, the Bulls went on a 30-7 run between the 11:23 and 4:14 marks of the period to take as much as a 15-point lead. The second of those 3-pointers featured another significant moment: With the shot clock winding down, LaVine caught a pass from Williams on the left wing and quickly drove against a bent Miami defense. The Heat won the opening 6:25 of the second quarter 17-4, holding the Bulls scoreless for the first 3:58 of the period and scoring eight points off four turnovers. That stretch featured more highly active defense (they scored 21 points off 13 Miami turnovers for the game) and intentional ball movement on offense, encouraging responses to the type of adversity that has caused the Bulls to wilt of late. They held the Heat to 21 points, 8-for-22 shooting and four turnovers in the first, good enough to carry a 10-point lead into the second. The Bulls responded to that, though, by dominating the meat of the third quarter. With the exception of two heat-checks at the end of the first quarter (which he earned by starting hot), he kept the ball moving and was in the right place defensively more times than not — neither of which had been enduring truths 29 games into the season. The Bulls' defense, in general, got off to a much sharper start than the listless effort against Minnesota in which they allowed 150 points in regulation for the first time since 1982.

With two 2022 All-Stars in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan and former All-Star center Nikola Vucevic, the Chicago Bulls had hoped to be a serious contender in ...

And I’m going to do it for him, and I’m going to do it for him. The duo had a successful first season, leading the Bulls to a 46-36 record and their first playoff berth in four years, having the best record in the East for parts of the first half of the season due to a 27-11 start and appearing to truly enjoy each other’s presence. Do the Bulls view DeRozan as a centerpiece for years to come? “And if the ball’s moved and passed whoever scores, scores.” “Once you get to the playoffs and have healthy bodies, I think a lot of things can happen. The Bulls are a much more complete and dynamic team with Ball healthy, of course, as his ability to push the pace and set the table for DeRozan and LaVine were necessary to last season’s team. For Donovan, the challenge of optimizing DeRozan and LaVine together through a balance of execution, accountability and cooperation looms large. They returned 12 players from last season’s roster, and the hope was for continuity equating to increased chemistry and better results. “There’s a certain level of frustration in people trying to figure out what we can do to help right the ship,” LaVine told The Athletic. The roles appear reversed a year later, and it jumps out when you look at the standings. “I think with the players that we have, we try to put it on each other to right the ship. But their meetings have not led to in-game results so far, with a level of on-court, stylistic tension simply festering throughout the season and being magnified due to the win-loss record.

Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and the Chicago Bulls stopped a four-game slide by beating the short-handed ...

DeRozan and Andre Drummond (who played 7:02 for Chicago on Tuesday) played in that game, DeRozan for the Raptors, Drummond for the Pistons. Vucevic had his team-best 14th double-double of the season. … Adebayo was 7 for 7 in the first half, the best such mark of his career. 10, for Lionel Messi, the superstar who has been linked to Inter Miami for some time. He was 6 for 6 in the first half against Cleveland on Feb. … The Bulls were outscored 36-21 in the second quarter.

At halftime of a game in which the Bulls allowed 150 points, players strongly expressed frustration with Zach LaVine.

Sources indicated that there was a blowup between players at halftime of the Timberwolves loss, causing Bulls coaches to go into the locker room while they were ...

[Goran Dragic](/nba/players/1622530/goran-dragic/) [told reporters](https://twitter.com/DarnellMayberry/status/1604671785844228097) after the loss in Minnesota. in order to acquire [Nikola Vucevic](/nba/players/1647481/nikola-vucevic/). [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIN/minnesota-timberwolves/), which followed a 114-91 loss to the [New York Knicks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/NY/new-york-knicks/). Chicago acquired DeRozan in a sign-and-trade that August, shortly after signing [Alex Caruso](/nba/players/2269489/alex-caruso/) and nabbing Ball in another sign-and-trade. The entire franchise is under immense pressure to win, now. Even more, multiple league sources and sources close to the organization say LaVine and the Bulls are not seeing eye-to-eye. [DeMar DeRozan](/nba/players/1685250/demar-derozan/) being even more efficient than he was last year and [Zach LaVine's](/nba/players/2135543/zach-lavine/) percentages rising in December. Donovan's job is currently safe, however, as The Athletic reported that he signed a multiyear contract extension prior to the start of this season. LaVine injured his knee last January, played through pain for the rest of the season and had arthroscopic knee surgery in late May, after the 30, during which time they've gone 2-7, beating only the [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/DAL/dallas-mavericks/) without [Luka Doncic](/nba/players/2900426/luka-doncic/) and the [Washington Wizards](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/WAS/washington-wizards/) without [Bradley Beal](/nba/players/1992783/bradley-beal/). Source said it was the second time it happened. They're 11-18, coming off a 150-124 loss -- yes, really -- to the

Color me shocked. The Chicago Bulls players aren't happy with each other and how this season is going. Shams Charania of The Athletic recently highlighted ...

The Bulls already have plenty of tactical issues to deal with. He also reports that LaVine and the organization are not seeing "eye to eye." The Chicago Bulls players aren't happy with each other and how this season is going.

What Bulls coach Billy Donovan would confirm on Tuesday, was that there was a halftime incident in Minnesota in his locker room. But the coach also did his ...

“Some of the things he has referenced to you guys is he’s trying to get his legs underneath him, so I think that has an impact on it,’’ Donovan said of what he was seeing on film from LaVine. And we as coaches play a part in it, too, constantly trying to create the clarity for him as in, ‘This is what we’re doing, and can we do it at a high enough level?’ ’’ LaVine ended the season with that poor defensive reputation intact, finishing with a career-worst 116.1 rating. Forget that LaVine was given a five-year, $215 million max contract last summer. At one point in late November, LaVine’s defensive rating was 103.4, which ranked him 79th among starters — as high as LaVine had ever been ranked. The anger was said to be directed at LaVine.

The Bulls are in a tough spot this season, but could trading DeMar DeRozan be the change they need to turn the season around?

DeMar DeRozan would return to a place he long called home, and the Bulls could kickstart their rebuild in earnest. At this point, it's unclear if a trade between the Bulls and Raptors will take place, but it remains an intriguing option for both teams, given their current situations. A swap of DeRozan and some picks for Van Vleet or Flynn could give them the point guard they need to jumpstart their offense and get back on track. For the Raptors, a trade for DeRozan would be a great move on multiple fronts. They are just a game ahead of the Bulls in the standings and are holding on to 10th place. With the Bulls and Raptors in the same boat, could the two franchises join forces and make a deal that could benefit both teams?

Chicago snapped a four-game losing streak but remains six games under .500.

They still need to show it when they step on the court. “When you appreciate it and it’s something you want to be a part of, you gotta go through the good and the bad with it. “But it’s not only the simple pass. It’s not necessarily the bad is a bad thing. “Just us making the right play as a whole,” DeRozan explained of that deep discussion. DeRozan and LaVine walked to the bench together, talking the entire way. It’s about if we run something, make sure if you’re supposed to go set a screen, set the screen. “It’d be a problem if we didn’t have any type of aggressive confrontation some way,” DeRozan said. If you’re supposed to cut off the screen, make sure you do it correctly. He instead diagnosed the defense and threw a dart to And so it was a good play and obviously a good pass by Zach. “We talked about it right before,” Vučević said.

Nikola Vucevic scored 29 points to lead the Bulls to a much-needed 113-103 victory at Miami on Tuesday. Before the game, coach Billy Donovan confirmed ...

limped to the locker room in the third quarter with a left ankle sprain and did not return. That's what seemed to happen in Minnesota, although the Bulls played well on the offensive end that night. But whatever the commotion was about, he was glad to hear it. Guys are tough enough to take it and respond and that's just part of it. They rolled to a 113-103 victory on Tuesday, sweeping both games in Miami this season for the first time since 2014-15. So reports of a noisy confrontation inside the locker room at halftime of Sunday's loss in Minnesota was no surprise.

A report from renowned NBA insiders Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic has confirmed what many observers have long noticed–something is off ...

According to sources, the Bulls' newly-minted max contract player has not been on the same page with the organization—making his five-year, $215 million deal look like a major mistake. Moreover, the report suggests that LaVine feels the most heat and criticism in this situation. The team stands near the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 11-18 and has lost 8 of their last 11 games.

There are new reports of friction inside Chicago's locker room. It sure feels like it's time for the Bulls to pivot.

At this point, Karnisovas needs to look into the mirror and realize this team he built isn’t working, and isn’t going to work. The Bulls would be selling high on the 33-year-old if they choose to do it knowing they already traded a top-8 protected first round pick in 2025 to acquire him. The Bulls simply need more assets and more outs moving forward. And by the way, if Ball can play again, do the Bulls really expect him to be the same brilliant role player he was after missing almost two full seasons with a bizarre bone bruise on his knee? Williams in particular could greatly benefit from a bigger offensive load if the Bulls decide to trade DeRozan. LaVine of course isn’t solely responsible for giving up all those points by himself, but his slow start in the first year of a massive contract extension is only adding to the speculation that the Bulls may need to blow it up. If the Bulls trade LaVine now, they might be trading him at the low point of his value. [the most for the franchise since 1982](https://twitter.com/Kevin_NBCS/status/1604664685315358726), and extended their losing streak to four games. The Bulls are 12-18 and would be [outside of the Eastern Conference play-in picture](https://www.nba.com/standings) if the season ended today. Charania reports that Donovan is safe in Chicago, but it’s easy to connect the dots in the report that it’s LaVine who isn’t happy with his head coach. 2022, but [Lonzo Ball’s injury](https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2022/12/7/23487530/lonzo-ball-injury-chicago-bulls-tank-draft-trades-screwed), lingering knee issues for Zach LaVine, and a glaring lack of shooting has drained the Bulls of whatever potency they once had. [Chicago Bulls](https://www.blogabull.com) are imploding, and how the franchise chooses to respond to its cursed start has become one of the biggest open questions in the NBA.

The Bulls have reportedly held several team meetings, including one-on-ones with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, to try to fix their issues.

The Bulls snapped a four-game skid impressively on Wednesday, handing the Heat a 113-103 loss. Here are three things we learned from their big victory.

[Ayo Dosunmu](https://www.basketballnetwork.net/tag/ayo-dosunmu) started the season as the Bulls' starting point guard, replacing the injured Ball. It was a much-needed response from LaVine and should serve as a reminder that his play is one of the barometers for the Bulls' success. Oladipo shot 4-of-13 from the field, while Strus went a dismal 1-of-9 from the floor and 1-for-7 from beyond the three-point line. LaVine tried to quiet all that by starting the game with three straight triples. With that in mind, here are three key takeaways from the Bulls' much-needed win over Miami. The Bulls secured a 113-103 win over the Miami Heat, their first win in five games.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball says he is "finally seeing some improvement" in his surgically repaired knee, but a timeline for his return to the court ...

"But unfortunately, I'm not on the court right now and I feel like we're all feeling it." "These last couple weeks, I'm finally seeing some improvement, which is nice to see," Ball said. I'm trying to remain positive and just keep getting better," Ball said. Just trying not to move backwards." It was his second procedure this year following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in January that sidelined him for the rest of the 2021-22 season. "It's been a crazy journey, crazy therapy," Ball told reporters at a charity event in Chicago on Wednesday.

For the second time in a row, a game between the Bulls and Atlanta Hawks was decided by a flip-in at the horn. But this time, Ayo Dosunmu gave the Bulls the ...

While Lonzo Ball's rehab timeline remains uncertain, the Bulls' starting point guard has made progress in his recovery from knee surgery.

"A lot of mobility stuff, trying to work through the pain," he said when asked what his rehab process has been like. Just figuring out how we can get through it to a point I can produce on the court." Asked where he is in the process of getting his legs back to full health, he added: "I can't give you a specific time when I'll be back. "Finally got to touch the ball. But it's definitely positive light at the end of the tunnel." "It's been a crazy journey, been a crazy therapy," Ball said as he participated in a charity gift drive with the Chicago-based nonprofit Fathers, Families & Healthy Communities.

It felt like rock bottom after an embarrassing showing Sunday in Minnesota, but after some good old-fashioned teammate confrontation in the locker room that ...

The other was Alex Caruso having to be helped off the court with 2:29 left in the half, and the Bulls leading 55-38. It was in that game that the halftime blow-up occurred, with Donovan anxious to see what exactly his players would do coming out of it. And it was a big-time win.’’ “I knew once I hit DeMar [with the pass], and once he got into his shot, I was hoping he was going to make it, but I just wanted to get around the rim just in case,’’ Dosunmu said. At times it can be uncomfortable for people, but it comes from a good place of they know they need each other.’’ So in the wake of a halftime locker-room incident between players Sunday in Minnesota, when Donovan called it a “good thing’’ two days later, he meant it.

The Bulls will be without Lonzo Ball, Goran Dragic, Javonte Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Carlik Jones and Marko Simonovic. Alex Caruso has been upgraded to ...

They are in the middle of a two-game winning streak and have gone 5-5 in their last ten games. As for the Hawks, they are the seventh seed in the east with a 16-15 record in 31 games. Over the last ten games, they have gone 3-7, and they are 5-11 in 16 games on the road.