© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bulls blows a 16-point lead and fails to get it done against a shorthanded Toronto Raptors squad
The Chicago Bulls blew a 16-point lead and fell to the Toronto Raptors at home, 118-107, to drop to 22-26 for the season. The Bulls had a ripe opportunity to move closer to the .500 mark against a Raptors team that missed three starters. However, poor defense and decision-making paved the way for the Bulls’ third loss in four games.
Waste of an opportunity
This was a game the Bulls had to win, and it appeared as if the team was locked in as they zoomed off to a 59-43 lead after an Ayo Dosunmu triple with 3:10 remaining in the first half. However, Jordan Nwora and the Raptors came alive in the third, as the latter completed a four-point play and added another triple and two free-throws to put them ahead, 88-83.
Former Bulls forward Thaddeus Young came away impressed with Nwora’s skills. Nwora finished with 17 points in only 19 minutes.
“Hell of a job tonight. Hell of a game last game as well. He's came off the bench from not playing, very minimal, to lighting it up. Like I said, that's another guy, you love guys like that can step in and play, and it just fits like a glove,” Young said.
Faltered down the stretch
The Raptors led by as many as eight, 102-94, but the DeMar DeRozan sparked the Bulls with a thunderous slam dunk over the defense of Bruce Brown to pull them within four, 104-100, with 7:11 remaining.
But the Bulls could not capitalize as DeRozan turned the ball over while getting trapped near halfcourt, which led to a layup by Young. On the Bulls’ next possession, Ayo Dosunmu threw an errant pass, which the Raptors turned into a triple by Gary Trent Jr. for a 109-100 lead.
DeRozan got the Bulls to within five, 111-106, with 2:07 to go, but a layup by Young off a gorgeous left-handed feed by Scottie Barnes shut the door on Chicago’s comeback attempt.
Deebo led the Bulls with 25 points, five assists, three steals, and four blocks. However, the 15-year pro committed a team-high five turnovers.
“I think that's what we rushed through. I think I had five turnovers. I had a couple of turnovers critical late. I think AC (Alex Caruso) had one when we tried to make a run to get back in the game. We got to be more conscious and take care of the ball a little bit better,” DeRozan said.
