San Antonio, missing its franchise center Victor Wembanyama (back), lost its defensive way throughout, and the victorious Bulls kept their shooting percentage at or above 60% in a dominant opening half on the way to a 139-124 win that saw Ayo Dosunmu get his first career triple-double while his teammates scored above 30 points in all four quarters. There would be no Spurs comeback this evening, as their shooting betrayed them at all levels for 2+ quarters, and they shed their most first-half points this season (73).
Chicago was led by veterans Nicolva Vucevic (39 points and 7 rebounds), Ayo Dosunmu (27 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals), and Zach Lavine (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists). Their bench outshined their Spurs counterparts with 34 points in the first half and had three players with double-digits.
Keldon Johnson (28 points and 5 rebounds) had a forceful impact off the bench, while Jeremy Sochan (16 points and 14 rebounds) continued his double-double production. Devin Vassell had 17 points and 4 steals as he ramps up his minutes.
Vucevic ate his smaller defenders alive, while the Bulls’ perimeter guys had their way in the paint to the tune of 63+% shooting. San Antonio was saved by a strong bench effort late in the frame by Johnson. The 12 minutes were dominated by the Bulls’ perimeter players, as the visitors left it up 36-22.
Talen Horton-Tucker attacked the lax San Antonio defense for a flurry of points, which helped strengthen the Bulls’ advantage in the second quarter. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Champagnie netted a handful of points respectively, but the Spurs failed to eat into the deficit as the higher motor Bulls surpassed the 50-point mark quickly. In one jarring sequence, San Antonio got a deflection, which a Bull threw high into the air – falling gently into Lavine’s hands and he zipped a bullet pass to Matas Buzelis for a dunk. The Spurs went into the break down 16.
In the third period, Vucevic continued his rampage in the lane to keep Chicago safely ahead. San Antonio finally managed to match the Bulls’ output and yet, they were not able to inch closer than 16. Jeremy Sochan and Chris Paul got into double digit scoring this quarter to creep closer. Vucevic and Dosunmu answered seemingly ever Spurs bucket to keep Chicago in front. Paul spearheaded a brief comeback attempt with San Antonio going to the fourth down 11 – and somehow all players and coaches livid with the inconsistent referee crew.
Observations
- I like the Spurs missing out on the Cup final rounds, if only to get some practice time for the returning injured players and shore up the defense.
- A good number of lower bowl seats stayed absent throughout the opening moments.
- If Vucevic goes on the trading block…. it’s got to be an offensive upgrade on Collins and Bassey, right?
- Sequence of the Game #1: With the bench needing to pick up the pieces of a horrendous start, Stephon Castle ran a perfect 4-on-2 fastbreak and spoonfed Johnson for a fierce and-1.
- Sequence of the Game #2: Midway through the third, and after Sochan stripped Lavine on a drive, Chris Paul skirted the other way and laid a nice saucer in front of Zach Collins for a transition dunk.
- Castle Hills: Late in the first half, he stripped Vucevic and niftily did an inside-out dribble to on the way to a transition lay-up.
- Devin’s Deeds: Though his team was down by a lot, he swiped an errant Vucevic pass and took it coast-to-coast for a gliding lay-up late in the second period. It’s nice to see him get anywhere he needs to with his dribble.
- Interim Coach Mitch Johnson was whistled for his first technical of the season. More nasty please.
- Champagnie, as he has been doing early in games, hit San Antonio’s first field goal. After a Paul pull-up, Billy Donovan called a quick ‘T’ that would have made Pop proud. Vucevic benefitted from his deep paint position for two early buckets, and Dosunmu’s three put the Spurs down seven. Vassell missed an open attempt, but converted a difficult one over Vucevic. A pair of and-1’s from Dosunmu and Dalan Terry doubled Chicago’s score over the lethargic Spurs. Upon Charles Bassey’s entry, he found Johnson for a power dunk and fed Champagnie for a lay-up. San Antonio was fortunate to be down only 14 after the Bulls shot 64%.
- Mamukelashvili hit a three and earned two freebies in his first minute of action in the second. Former Laker Talen Horton-Tucker answered with seven points of his own. A tip dunk by Matas Buzelis further deflated the crowd and gave the Bulls their biggest lead of the night. The Spurs found their offensive footing better, and yet Chicago was able to maintain its momentum via an assortment of drives and shotmaking acumen. The Bulls left the half up 73-57.
- Coming out of the break, Vucevic and Sochan had equally impressive and-1s. The teams combined for a flurry (20) of points in the first two minutes. Josh Giddey and Vucevic picked up technicals on successive possessions. Chicago went up 20 on yet another Vucevic floater from less than five feet away. A shot-clock beating three by Paul, Collins’ block at the other end, and a driving Vassell lay-up finally got San Antonio within 15. Undeterred, the Bulls hit the 100-point mark with four minutes remaining. Paul, putting on a master class at Point Godding, found Sochan for a dunk and Vassell for a wing three. With the 40-point burst, the Spurs left the frame down 97-108.
- Harrison Barnes had four quick points spanning the 3rd and 4th. The Spurs started attacking the rim persistently and netted several Bulls fouls in the process. Chicago turned back San Antonio with tougher defense and going to their horses tonight – Vucevic and Dosunmu for clutch baskets. Johnson attacked the rim furiously to get past the 20-point mark and, more importantly, ignite a late 13-2 run to get the Bulls lead down to single-digits. Horton-Tucker’s corner three ended the comeback.
San Antonio completes its home SEGABABA against DeAaron Fox and the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night at 7:00 PM CDT.
