DeMar DeRozan, Bulls too much for Knicks
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (4) and guard Evan Fournier (13) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
DeMar DeRozan scored 34 points and Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine each added 27 to lift the visiting Chicago Bulls to a 119-115 victory over the New York Knicks on Thursday night.
DeRozan made 12 of 19 shots from the floor and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line, continuing his impressive play vs. the Knicks. He had 31 points in the Bulls’ 109-103 win over New York on Nov. 21.
Vucevic followed up a season-high 30-point performance in Chicago’s 133-119 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday by making 5 of 9 shots from 3-point range against New York.
🔥 34 PTS 🔥
DeMar DeRozan walks off the court in NYC after recording his 7th 30+ PT game of the season in the @chicagobulls win! #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/lOxjMzcJ6P
— NBA (@NBA) December 3, 2021
LaVine, who had been on the injury report with an illness, sank three 3-pointers to send the Bulls to their second win in three meetings with the Knicks this season. He scored 25 points in Chicago’s 104-103 loss to New York on Oct. 28 and 21 points in last month’s game.
Julius Randle collected 30 points and 12 rebounds, and Alec Burks and Evan Fournier each added 16 for the Knicks, who have lost two in a row and 10 of their last 16 games.
Taj Gibson was ejected after setting two quick illegal screens with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter. The loss of Gibson came after Randle took issue with the officiating in New York’s 112-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
Randle made a driving layup and a free throw to forge a tie at 111. But LaVine countered with a pair of free throws. DeRozan added a driving layup with 20.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Immanuel Quickley misfired on his ensuing 3-point attempt, and DeRozan essentially sealed the win at the free-throw line.
New York scored 27 of the first 37 points in the third quarter to cut its 69-51 halftime deficit down to one point. Quickley sank 3-pointers on consecutive possessions before Mitchell Robinson completed an alley-oop with a dunk.
New York claimed an early 9-7 lead before Chicago responded with a 30-10 run to end the first quarter. Vucevic finished with 13 points and LaVine added 11 for the Bulls, who scored 10 points off turnovers in the quarter.
