DeMar DeRozan’s last-second shot ends in 103-102 loss to Cleveland Cavaliers – The Denver Put up

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The 12 months ended for the Chicago Bulls because it started, holding their breath ready for the shot to fall.

DeMar DeRozan rang in 2022 with slightly magic, hitting a one-foot 3-pointer in Indianapolis to beat the buzzer beat for a New 12 months’s Eve win over the Pacers. However DeRozan could not rustle up the identical heroics in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

The Bulls pressured a Cavaliers soar ball turnover with 5.8 seconds left when Alex Caruso and Nikola Vucevic smothered Donovan Mitchell’s last-second layup try, placing the ball within the workforce’s most dependable palms for the potential game-winner. The Cavaliers threw a double-team on DeRozan, who stepped on his signature mid-range jumper to get one other crack on the New 12 months’s Eve haymaker.

However in contrast to final 12 months’s streaking arc by means of the web, this 12 months’s shot missed the mark a bit, ricocheting over the rim because the Bulls fell 103-102 on the United Middle.

Table of Contents

The best

Javonte Inexperienced led the Bulls offense with 12 factors within the first half, making the one Bulls 3-pointer of the half and hitting a thunderous one-handed dunk. Inexperienced threw himself into the tooth of the Cavaliers protection, making the primary 5 free throws of the night time for the Bulls. He didn’t rating within the second half.

After back-to-back 40-point video games from DeRozan and Zach LaVine, respectively, the Bulls had a greater offense in opposition to the Cavaliers. Six gamers scored 11 or extra factors: DeRozan had 21, LaVine had 15 and Ayo Dosunmu had 19.

The low ones

The Bulls utterly outplayed second possibilities, scoring 25 second-chance factors whereas scoring simply two. Regardless of outscoring the Cavaliers 25-24 within the first half, the Bulls gave up 15 rebounds within the third quarter as they misplaced the battle of the boards on each ends of the court docket. Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 4 offensive rebounds.
The Cavaliers lead the league in defensive ranking (108.6), however Chicago enters on a three-game shedding streak after permitting 125 or extra factors in its final two losses. After per week of explosive offense, the Bulls may solely rating 102 factors in opposition to the Cavaliers and gave up 16 factors on 15 turnovers.
After trailing by as many as 14 factors, the Bulls battled again to drive their nineteenth straight end, any recreation by 5 factors or fewer within the remaining 5 minutes. The Bulls have been on a robust streak in these conditions, going 0-7 to begin the season and going 7-4 in clutch video games. However the final shot fell quick on this recreation, dropping the Bulls to 7-12 within the division.
It is contemporary out season-high 43 factors Friday Towards the Detroit Pistons, LaVine was quiet by means of his first half-hour. He scored simply eight factors within the opening half and did not make a discipline objective within the third quarter. LaVine lastly broke his wild streak with 6:38 left within the recreation, scoring seven straight factors to drag the Bulls inside three, however he did not make it by means of the ultimate 5 minutes.

Recreation statistics

The Cavaliers gained the sport behind the 3-point arc. a well-known chorus for the Bulls, who shoot the fewest 3-pointers within the league. The Bulls had been outscored 39-21 from behind the arc, whereas three Cavaliers made three or extra 3-pointers.

The Bulls made only one 3-pointer within the first half and the Cavaliers went 9-for-23 from behind the arc. Dosunmu took benefit of a pair of open appears to go 2-for-2 within the third quarter, however the Bulls could not ignite their lengthy vary taking pictures.

Kevin Love led the Cavaliers with a 5-for-11 taking pictures from behind the arc.

Harm report

Goran Dragic was the one Bulls participant out in opposition to the Cavaliers, sitting out the workforce’s third recreation in 4 nights on relaxation. Derrick Jones Jr. was eligible to return after lacking 5 video games with a sprained left ankle, however didn’t play.

The Cavaliers had been with out guard Darius Garland (proper thumb) and ahead Evan Mobley (proper ankle).