Everyone talks about Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, but DeMar DeRozan has also been playing at MVP level since the beginning of February. And his performance tonight can only strengthen his candidacy.
Indeed, with his 40 points and 7 assists (at 16/24 on shots), the 32-year-old winger was once again immense in guiding the Bulls to victory, against a snappy and long-able Spurs. to win (120-109).
Except that the former San Antonio player, author of a whopping 19 points in the only fourth quarter (won 37-20 by his team), outdid himself at the end to allow Chicago to win a fourth victory consecutive. And thus strengthen its place in the Top 3 of the Eastern Conference.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— DeMar DeRozan, a foil finish. The Bulls player is currently on another planet, and you only have to watch his fourth quarter to be convinced. His team in the hard, the All-Star took out his superhero costume to put Chicago back in the game, with shots and baskets at mid-distance or in the paint. Unstoppable, he therefore multiplied the successes, so as to give control to his people and sign there his 6th game in a row at 35+ points. In addition to confirming his current level of play, just insane and which earned him to be elected “Player of the week”! What we can only understand…
— When San Antonio collapses in twelve minutes. For three quarters, the Spurs did what was necessary in the game to give themselves the opportunity to win a third success in a row. Certainly clearly dominated on the rebound (33 to 53), the Texans relied on their collective (five players with more than 10 points, with 28 assists and 7 lost balls), but also on the losses of opposing balls (16, their awarding 20 points in stride), to race in the lead. Except that, outclassed in the last act, Gregg Popovich’s men had to surrender before the mastery of DeMar DeRozan and others…
— Nikola Vucevic and Coby White, perfect as lieutenants. In the shadow of the elusive DeMar DeRozan, and without Zach LaVine, the Vucevic/White pair also delivered a very good match. On the one hand, the pivot compiled 25 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists, while the leader meanwhile finished with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Copies in the first quarter, in the racket or behind the arc, before gradually letting DeRozan take over, Vucevic and White also confirm their good form of the moment, in this weakened but still combative Chicago team.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Lonnie Walker IV. Symbol of the very clear domination of the Texan “second unit”, the back of the Spurs perfectly fulfilled his role as a spark off the bench. With his 21 points, 9/17 on shots, he thus finished as his team’s top scorer, having mainly distinguished himself in the third quarter, where he scored 9 units (including a terrible dunk on the counter-attack), to give momentum to the game in San Antonio. Despite the defeat, the 6th man of Gregg Popovich will therefore have done the job this night, on the offensive level. We could also have said the same of Doug McDermott (19 points).
⛔ Le banc de Chicago. If DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Coby White have assured the Bulls side, it is impossible to say the same for the “second unit” of their franchise, eaten by that of the Spurs (12 points, against 40 opposite…). Handicapped by injuries, Billy Donovan’s men must rely almost exclusively on their starting five to exist and give themselves a chance to win. Admittedly full of good will, the limited Derrick Jones Jr, Troy Brown Jr, Tony Bradley and Matt Thomas nevertheless have trouble contributing anything other than energy and combativeness.
⛔ Devin Vassell. After three interesting games (17.3 points on average), the young Spurs back fell into line today, finishing with only 5 points on the clock, 2/10 on shots (including 0/4 at 3-pts ). Unable to find his rhythm offensively, he got dominated defensively, sometimes marking DeMar DeRozan, sometimes marking Coby White. Which inevitably pushed Gregg Popovich to prefer a much more inspired Lonnie Walker IV.
THE FOLLOWING
Chicago (37-21) : reception of Sacramento, in the night of Wednesday to Thursday (02:00).
Saint Anthony (22-36) : trip to Oklahoma City, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday (02:00).
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