Drummond steps up as Bulls knock off Hawks |
CHICAGO - Just when you think the Chicago Bulls (14-18) are starting to get healthy and back at full strength, the injury bug strikes again, with Nikola Vucevic hitting the shelf. Not only did Vooch miss his first game since 2022 Tuesday, but with this being a groin injury, Billy Donovan is expecting him to miss multiple games and hasn't put a timetable on his return.
That means it will come down to others to step up, with Andre Drummond being the most likely option for the starting center position. Known as a double-double machine, Drummond has been arguably the best backup center in the league despite playing roughly 15 minutes per contest. Needing him to step up against the Atlanta Hawks (12-18) at the United Center on Tuesday, Drummond not only delivered but delivered in a big way as he played 38 minutes and came away with a 24-point, 25-rebound double-double to lead the Bulls to the 118-113 victory. This was a game the Bulls wanted to have as their effort wasn't great against the Cavaliers on Saturday, and they had some wondering if this team would resort back to their old ways. At times, it did look like it during the game as the Bulls fell behind by double digits in both the second and third quarters, but found a way to battle back to keep things close. That helped set up the massive fourth quarter where Demar DeRozan returned to being Mr. Fourth Quarter to put the Bulls on his back down the stretch to cap off the comeback bid and improved to 3-1 on this homestand. DeRozan has quietly put together his best month of the season, and considering the night Drummond had, many don't realize it was DeRozan leading the Bulls with 25 points while also dishing out six assists. Chicago also had two other players fall just short of the 20-point mark, with Coby White and Ayo Dosunumu grabbing 19 points. For White, he continues to play solid at the PG position, but after being one of the hottest shooters from distance all month long, he has hit a dry spell, going 0-7 from deep tonight and 0-15 in his past two games. Meanwhile, Dosunmu has started to find his groove on the floor, and with 19 points to lead the bench, he provided the Bulls with the much-needed lift their offense needed with Vooch and Zach Lavine both out of action. Rounding out the double-digit scorers for the Bulls were Alex Caruso and Jevon Carter, who finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Since Torrey Craig went down with a foot injury, Carter is seeing more playing time, and his results have shown. He is looking like the player the Bulls expected him to look like and has been just what they have needed off of the bench. Regarding the Hawks, Trae Young is the engine that makes this team go, and with him averaging more than 30 PPG over his past five and close to 30 PPG against the Bulls for his career, the message was simple. Make him earn his points, which is what the defense did. Sure, he still got his to lead the Hawks starters with 21 points, but to do that on 6-17 shooting and 3-13 from deep, the Bulls did their job defensively and made him work for everything. Leading the way for Atlanta offensively was Bogdan Bogdanovic off the bench, who came away with 22 points. Signed as a free agent last season, Bogdanovich has bounced between starter and sixth man, but for whatever reason is more comfortable in a sixth-man role. Like Young, it was a rough shooting night overall for him, but with 22 points, he earned the success he had on the floor. One thing the Hawks did better than the Bulls was getting production from their starting five, as all five starters landed in double figures. Dejounte Murray was next on the list with 17 points, as he did a little of everything on the court. Then you had Clint Capela and Jaylon Johnson, fresh off the injured list, give the Bulls fits as their athletic ability was on full display around the rim. Johnson picked up 10 points with nine boards for a near double-double, while Capela put up an exciting yet very quiet 13 points. Atlanta also received 13 points from Saddiq Bey and 11 from Onyeka Okongwu off the bench, but it wasn't enough to cool off the Bulls. With the Win, the Bulls have now won nine of their past 12 and have moved up in the standings as they creep closer to the Play-in line and .500 for the first time since the opening games of the season. Next up for the Bulls is figuring out how to make due if Vucevic should miss a ton of time. Rookie Adama Sanogo is an option as the rookie has been dominating G-League play all season and is signed to a two-way contract where he can play the rest of the season, and his cap hit won't take effect.
