© Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bulls defeat the Toronto Raptors but lose Zach LaVine to an injury
The Chicago Bulls proved to be the steadier team down the stretch, as they defeated the Toronto Raptors, 116-110, at the Scotiabank Arena on Thursday. The victory snapped the Bulls’ four-game losing streak in Toronto and helped the team improve to 20-23.
Nikola Vucevic pounded Toronto’s undersized interior defense all night long and came away with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. DeMar DeRozan also gave his former team the business, scoring 24 markers, while Coby White added 23 markers and eight boards.
LaVine injures ankle
Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine scored eight points and played only 24 minutes as he suffered an ankle sprain early in the third quarter. Although the veteran tried to shake the injury off, playing two minutes in the fourth quarter, he ultimately had to sit out the rest of the game.
The Bulls have yet to release an official statement on LaVine’s injury, but it is expected that he will undergo further evaluation and treatment in the coming days. This could potentially put him on the sidelines for a few games, which would be a major blow for Chicago as they continue to fight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Chicago shines in crunch time
The Bulls led by as much as 14 points, but the Raptors fought back and led 109-108 with 2:21 left in the game. White and DeRozan sank consecutive baskets for a 112-109 lead before Scottie Barnes split his charities to pull the Raptors to within two, 112-110. DeRozan added two more free throws, and White drained a floater with 19.7 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Bulls.
