NBA News Wire
Bulls 100, Raptors 93
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
TORONTO — Forward Pau Gasol scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls snapped the Toronto Raptors’ five-game winning streak with a 100-93 victory Thursday.
The Bulls, who took command of the game by outscoring Toronto 35-14 in the third quarter, improved their road record to 5-0 and their overall mark to 7-2. The Raptors (7-2) saw their home mark fall to 5-1.
Guard Jimmy Butler had 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Bulls, and guard Derrick Rose added 20 points. Forward Mike Dunleavy scored 14, and forward Taj Gibson had 10.
Guard Kyle Lowry led Toronto with 20 points and eight assists, and he tied for the team lead with eight rebounds. Forward James Johnson added 16 points, forward Amir Johnson 14, forward Terrence Ross had 12, and guard DeMar DeRozan chipped in with 10.
The Raptors took a seven-point lead into the second half, but by the end of the third quarter, they trailed by 14.
Chicago whittled the lead to one when Gasol and Rose each scored four points in the first three minutes of the second half. Dunleavy put the Bulls ahead 58-56 with a 3-pointer with 7:19 to play in the third quarter, taking advantage of a turnover by Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas. The Bulls finished the third quarter by reeling off 10 straight points, completed with Butler’s two free throws, to take an 80-66 lead.
The Bulls increased the margin to 16 points with 6:33 to play on a reverse layup by center Joakim Noah. Rose’s layup with five minutes to lay bumped the lead to 18 points. Lowry responded with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 15 points. Amir Johnson made two free throws to cut the lead to 12 with 3:38 to play. Lowry got the lead down to 10 after Chicago turned the ball over on a 24-second violation.
Ross hit a 3-pointer with 1:53 left in the game to bring the Raptors to within seven points. Amir Johnson’s dunk off a Bulls turnover cut the lead to five with 1:44 left. Dunleavy was fouled Ross while attempting a 3-pointer with 58.9 seconds left and made two of three, and the lead was 97-90.
DeRozan made two free throws to again cut the lead to five with 30 seconds left. Butler then made two free throws, and Lowry sank one of two foul shots. Noah missed both his with 20 seconds left, but Butler made one of his two foul shots with 10 seconds left, and Chicago led by seven.
NOTES: Bulls G Derrick Rose stood by comments he made Tuesday that he must miss some games for his future health, beyond this season. Asked Thursday morning if he could understand people questioning his commitment to the team, Rose said, “No, but I could (not) care less. …Really, I was just being myself. As long as I’m being myself, that’s the only person I can be.” He was sidelined most of the past two seasons with injuries and has missed four games this season with ankle sprains. … Raptors F Landry Fields (flu symptoms) was not available for the second game in a row. C Lucas Nogueira took his place. … The Raptors next play Saturday at home against the Utah Jazz. … The Bulls’ next game is Saturday at home against the Indiana Pacers.
