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Billy Donovan comments on endgame altercation that nearly cost the Chicago Bulls the game

"We got to be better in those moments."

Stephen Beslic

© Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
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In another close game in Salt Lake City, the Chicago Bulls were hanging on for dear life against the Utah Jazz. Ahead by only one point, 117-116, with ten seconds to go, veteran wingman DeMar DeRozan was fouled hard by Jazz guard Collin Sexton.

The foul triggered a minor brouhaha involving Jazz forward Jason Collins, Bulls assistant Chris Fleming, and injured forward Torrey Craig. The three were handed technical fouls, which resulted in a made free throw by Utah’s Jordan Clarkson to tie the game.

Fortunately for the Bulls, DeRozan calmly sank both his freebies for what eventually would be the game-winning points. After the game, Bulls coach Billy Donovan remarked that the players must handle their emotions better, especially when the game hangs in the balance.

The situation escalated

While Craig—who remains sidelined because of a knee sprain—was acting in defense of DeRozan, his reaction to Sexton’s foul escalated what could have been a simple physical play. Instead, it became a heated exchange between players and coaches that could have turned out badly for the Bulls. It nearly happened when Sexton almost made a crucial three-pointer from the corner in the game's last possession.

"I saw DeMar get fouled and I don't know if he was grabbing his face or holding his face," Donovan said.

"Torrey said something, came over. I think Chris Fleming was trying to hold everybody off to kind of separate. And then from there, it just kind of escalated and I stepped in to try to break it up a little bit."

Be more aware of the situation

With the Bulls in a heated race to gain a higher seed in the Eastern Conference, Donovan says they can’t afford to lose games due to silly incidents. He stresses the importance of being aware of the situation and keeping a level head in high-pressure games.

"We have to be better in those moments. Not only did we lose a point on a technical foul, we also iced our free-throw shooter. And I give DeMar a lot of credit for being mentally tough enough. I understand the emotion and intensity of games. But whether it's complaining or frustrated, it's not helping anything. We gotta do a better job," Donovan said.

For his part, Deebo shared he wasn’t at all fazed by the moment, having been in many pressure-packed situations before.

“Not at all,” DeRozan said when asked if the long lull between the foul and his free throws affected him.

“Just wanting to win. I wasn’t thinking anything else.”

Chicago Bulls slip past the Utah Jazz 119-117

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Stephen Beslic
STEPHEN BESLIC

Stephen Beslic is a writer on Sports Illustrated's FanNation Network. Stephen played basketball from the age of 10 and graduated from Faculty of Economic and Business in Zagreb, Croatia, majoring in Marketing.

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