The Bulls’ response to rumors of a locker room turmoil is a three-game winning streak, the likes of which have not yet been seen this difficult season. This, in truth, comes with a little luck: the Knicks in fact miss 11 of the 26 free throws attempted, including a very heavy 0/2 by Jalen Brunson 6 seconds from the end which leaves the door open for DeMar DeRozan to score the three-point game with 4 tenths to go that gives success to the guests.
DeRozan finishes with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists and Nikola Vucevic adds 21, but it is the 33 points of the disputed Zach LaVine that guide the guests to success, also scoring the -1 basket with 7.6 seconds left before the two shots missed free throws by Brunson (to whom DeRozan had said something before the trip to the line). In the last four games he, DeRozan and Vucevic have always exceeded 20 each: it had never happened in the history of the franchise.
After eight wins in a row, the Knicks lose the second consecutive game, but if there is anyone who has nothing to reproach himself with, it is RJ Barrett. The Canadian scores his season-high of 44 points not only by attacking the basket, but also by scoring all 6 triple attempts in the 40 minutes he was on the court. Julius Randle also puts in 29 with 12 rebounds (5/10 from the arc), while Brunson betrays for one evening who, in addition to the last two missed free throws, shoots 5/15 from the field for 12 points, albeit with 9 assists for his teammates .