Bucks bounce back after blowing big lead to beat Bulls 93-86
Bulls Bucks Basketball Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to get past Chicago Bulls' Patrick Williams during the first half of Game 1 of their first round NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 17, 2022, in Milwaukee . The Bucks have won 17 of their last 18 meetings with the Bulls, including all five matchups this season. The Bulls’ lone victory during this stretch came in the 2020-21 regular-season finale when the Bucks rested all their starters. Brook Lopez scored 18 points, Holiday had 15, Khris Middleton had 11 and Bobby Portis added 10. The Bulls cut the lead to 87-86 on Alex Caruso's layup with 1:36 left, but they wouldn’t score again.
wftv.comLopez scores 28, Bucks beat Bulls 127-106 to clinch Central
Bucks Bulls Basketball Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, front, and Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, back, go for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) (David Banks)CHICAGO — (AP) — Brook Lopez scored a season-high 28 points and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a rather quiet performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo to clinch their fourth straight Central Division championship with a 127-106 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. They took control early and came away with an easy win even though DeMar DeRozan scored 40 for Chicago. Grayson Allen and Bobby Portis added 13 points apiece as the Bucks completed a four-game season sweep of the Bulls. Nikola Vucevic struggled, going 3 of 19 and scoring seven points.
wftv.comCavaliers, Bulls pushing for playoffs in East after droughts
76ers Cavaliers Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) passes the ball while he scrambles on the floor with Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden, top, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 3, 2022, in Cleveland. AP Photo/David Dermer) (David Dermer)Not since 1998 have the Cleveland Cavaliers made the playoffs without LeBron James. The only suspense left is determining seeding — and which teams will avoid the play-in and go straight to the playoffs. Their big new addition, DeMar DeRozan, is averaging a career-high 28 points per game, helping change the Bulls' outlook considerably. DeRozan said a missed free throw late in the fourth quarter left him frustrated, but the Bulls took the game anyway.
wftv.comSuns rout Bulls, move closer to wrapping up top spot in NBA
Bulls Suns Basketball Phoenix Suns center JaVale McGee dives for the ball during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Friday, March 18, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (Rick Scuteri)PHOENIX — (AP) — Devin Booker scored 28 points and the Phoenix Suns moved closer to wrapping up the NBA’s best regular-season record, routing the Chicago Bulls 129-102 on Friday night. Cameron Payne scored 15 points, Torrey Craig and Landry Shamet had 14 each, JaVale McGee 12 and Mikael Bridges 11. The Suns (48.5%) and Bulls (48.2%) entered Friday as the top field-goal percentage teams in the NBA. Suns were 12 of 12 from the free-throw line, with Booker making seven.
wftv.comBooker scores 38, NBA-best Suns hang on, beat Bulls 127-124
Suns Bulls Basketball Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker (1) scores past Chicago Bulls' Javonte Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO — (AP) — Devin Booker scored 38 points, and the NBA leading-Phoenix Suns hung on to beat the Chicago Bulls 127-124 on Monday night. Malcolm Hill scored the final eight points, including a layup at the buzzer, to pull Chicago within three. The Suns took control in the second quarter while building a 67-49 halftime lead. The Suns went on a 17-3 run early in the second quarter to stretch a five-point lead to 19.
wftv.comJoel Embiid scores 40 points, 76ers hold off DeRozan, Bulls
76ers Bulls Basketball Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, right, drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh)CHICAGO — (AP) — Joel Embiid dominated with 40 points and 10 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers overcame DeMar DeRozan's season-high, 45-point game for Chicago to beat the Bulls 119-108 on Sunday. Bulls: Coach Billy Donovan said he's not sure if LaVine will play Monday, when the Bulls host Phoenix. UP NEXT76ers: Host Phoenix on Tuesday night. Bulls: Host Phoenix on Monday night.
wftv.comBulls coach Donovan rips Bucks' Allen after flagrant foul
Bulls Bucks Basketball Milwaukee Bucks' Grayson Allen fouls Chicago Bulls' Alex Caruso during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (Morry Gash)MILWAUKEE — (AP) — Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan says the flagrant foul that resulted in Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen’s ejection Friday night could have caused a serious injury and merits a closer look from the NBA. Bulls guard Alex Caruso was driving to the basket midway through the third quarter when a hard foul from Allen caused him to land on his right side. And I really hope the league takes a hard look at something like that because (Allen) could have really, really seriously hurt him." “I thought it was a hard foul, for sure, but I thought it was a good, hard foul,” Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton said.
wftv.comBulls G Ball to have knee surgery, sidelined 6-8 weeks
Nets Bulls Basketball Chicago Bulls' Lonzo Ball (2) blocks the shot of Brooklyn Nets' Blake Griffin (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO — (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be out six to eight weeks, the team announced Thursday. Ball had the same knee scoped in 2018 when he was with the Lakers. With Ball out and star Zach LaVine (sore left knee) sidelined, the Bulls are leaning more on Coby White and rookie Ayo Dosunmu. ___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comLaVine leads way as Bulls win 9th straight, beat Wizards
Wizards Bulls Basketball Washington Wizards guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, right, and Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh)CHICAGO — (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 27 points, Coby White added 21 and the Chicago Bulls won their ninth straight, beating the Washington Wizards 130-122 on Friday night. TIP-INSWizards: G Aaron Holiday appeared in his first game since Dec. 26 after clearing health and safety protocols. ... Unseld hopes to have F Rui Hachimura and F Montrezl Harrell, who have cleared health and safety protocols, join the team on Saturday. Bulls: LaVine has 137 consecutive double-digit scoring games.
wftv.comNBA virus numbers still rising, expanded testing begins
“You expect the unexpected,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. Such is the norm around the NBA right now, after yet another day of adding more names to the health and safety protocols list. The numbers may continue to rise, now that the league's expanded testing for players who have not received booster shots started on Sunday and will continue into early January. “We haven’t done a thing since our last game,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said about 90 minutes before tip-off. Memphis saw its protocols list grow to five on Sunday.
wftv.comChristmas boost: NBA continues quest for more shots in arms
(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) (Marta Lavandier)The NBA’s Christmas message to its teams was a refrain it has been using for weeks: Get boosted. For now, though, Christmas remains on in the NBA. “The delay will give teams an opportunity to safely return players to market after the Christmas holiday and to replenish their rosters following NBA call-ups,” the G League said. “Is it going to be one of the premier games that I’m accustomed to playing on Christmas? “You can literally have one guy one night and the next night you won’t,” James said.
wftv.com2 more Chicago Bulls — Ayo Dosunmu and Stanley Johnson — enter the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, bringing their outbreak to 7 players
Chicago Bulls players Ayo Dosunmu and Stanley Johnson entered COVID-19 protocol ahead of their Saturday night game against the Miami Heat, bringing the team's total of players in isolation to seven.
chicagotribune.comDerrick Jones Jr. becomes the 5th Chicago Bulls player in the last 9 days to enter the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol
The Chicago Bulls are continuing to battle a COVID-19 outbreak after Derrick Jones Jr. on Thursday became the fifth player in the last nine days to enter the NBA's protocol. The team already received a hardship exception from the league.
chicagotribune.comEmbiid scores career-high 50 points to lead 76ers past Bulls
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Philadelphia. Embiid scored a career-high 50 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 112-105 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. With the 76ers clinging to a 107-103 lead, Embiid blocked LaVine’s driving attempt with 1:02 remaining, then hit a 17-foot baseline jumper with 41 seconds left. Ad“Overall I thought the guys really competed, battled and hung in there,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. Voted an All-Star for the fourth consecutive season on Thursday, Embiid scored 25 first-half points in a variety of ways, seemingly however he wanted.
LaVine scores 46 points, Bulls hit 25 3s to beat Pelicans
Chicago Bulls' Zach LaVine dunks past New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo Ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Chicago. LaVine scored a season-high 46 points, hitting nine of Chicago's franchise-record 25 3-pointers, and the Bulls cooled off the New Orleans Pelicans with a 129-116 victory Wednesday. LaVine and White became the first duo in NBA history to make at least eight 3s apiece in the same game, according to STATS. “We (were) due for a good team shooting night,” White said. Zion Williamson had 29 points for New Orleans, and Brandon Ingram finished with 21 points on 6-for-19 shooting.
LaVine scores 39 points to lift Bulls past Magic, 118-92
ORLANDO, Fla. – Zach LaVine bounced back from a poor performance a night earlier and scored 39 points Saturday as the Chicago Bulls routed the injury-plagued Orlando Magic 118-92. He scored 22 points in the first half and chipped in seven rebounds and four assists as the Bulls snapped a two-game losing streak. Orlando's Nikola Vucevic, who scored a career-best 43 points in Friday’s win, had 17 points and eight rebounds. The guard, who entered the night 10th in the NBA with 26.5 points per game, had another 12 points before exiting for good. Rookie Patrick Williams chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Coby White added 13 points.
Davis scores season-high 37 as Lakers beat Bulls 101-90
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. Davis dominated with a season-high 37 points against his hometown team, LeBron James added 17 points and 11 rebounds and the Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls 101-90 on Saturday. Davis scored 26 points in the highest scoring half by a Laker this season as Los Angeles grabbed a 63-33 lead. Bulls: Chicago shot 39 about percent from the field and made 8 of 25 3-pointers. Bulls: Chicago hosts Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Donovan, Bulls in OT
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots between Chicago Bulls guard Garrett Temple (17) and forward Lauri Markkanen during overtime of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)OKLAHOMA CITY – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a career-high 33 points and 10 assists to help Oklahoma City beat the Chicago Bulls and former Thunder coach Billy Donovan 127-125 in overtime Friday night. Donovan knew all too well how good Oklahoma City can be under challenging circumstances. ... Oklahoma City scored 19 points off Chicago's nine turnovers in the third quarter. ... Oklahoma City shot 56% in the third quarter and outscored the Bulls 37-27.
LeBron James scores 26 points, Lakers roll past Thunder
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, moves around Oklahoma City Thunder forward Isaiah Roby (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)OKLAHOMA CITY – LeBron James scored 26 points and the Los Angeles Lakers routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-99 on Wednesday night for their franchise-record seventh straight road victory to start the season. The Lakers led by 24 in the second quarter before the Thunder cut it to 58-46 at halftime. James scored 15 points in the half. James made 4 of 6 shots and scored 11 points in the third quarter to help the Lakers take a 93-71 lead.
James, Davis back on court for Lakers as season draws near
The Lakers, who beat Miami to win the championship Oct. 11, start the new season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. Also on Wednesday, Chicago beat Oklahoma City 124-103, and Portland played at Denver. BULLS 124, THUNDER 103At Oklahoma City, the Bulls took control in the second quarter and didn’t let up. LaVine scored 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting in the first quarter while Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 for Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City couldn’t get into a flow, but part of that was because first-year coach Mark Daigneault gave minutes to 13 players.
'Explosive' Durant scores 15 in 1st preseason game with Nets
Deni Avdija, the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft, scored 15 points for the Wizards. Danilo Gallinari scored 17 points and De’Andre Hunter added 15 for Atlanta, which made 17 3-pointers. Aaron Gordon scored 15 points and Nikola Vucevic had 14 for Orlando. Alec Burks finished with 15 points for New York, which defeated the Pistons on Friday. Gary Trent Jr. scored 17 points, Derrick Jones Jr. scored 15 and CJ McCollum added 13 for the Trail Blazers.
For Donovan, job with Bulls 'came out of left field'
CHICAGO – The Chicago Bulls weren't on Billy Donovan's radar when he and the Oklahoma City Thunder parted ways after five successful seasons. So this kind of came out of left field for me.”The Bulls introduced Donovan as their coach on Thursday, two days after they announced they landed arguably the most attractive candidate on the market to help turn around a struggling team with new management. Donovan met in person with Karnisovas and Marc Eversley for 5 1/2 hours to get the process in gear. And when Donovan accepted the job, Karnisovas said, “I could not stop smiling.”Hiring Donovan was a rare big and bold move for the Bulls. Donovan said he was “taken aback” by Karnisovas' vision and is looking forward to “working hand in hand” with him.
Bulls snag big name in coaching search, hire Billy Donovan
CHICAGO – Billy Donovan wasn't on the market for long — hardly a shocker given he's won everywhere he's coached. Chicago struck it big Tuesday, hiring Donovan and landing one of the top candidates on the market to lead a rebuilding team with an overhauled front office. The 55-year-old Donovan spent the past five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before his time with the Thunder, Donovan coached for 19 seasons at the University of Florida, winning two NCAA titles. The Bulls are counting on Donovan to give them a lift after the team missed the postseason for the fourth time in five years.
Billy Donovan out as Thunder coach after 5 seasons
Billy Donovan won't return as coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder after five seasons, the team announced Tuesday night. Donovan went 243-157 with Oklahoma City. Before that, he led the University of Florida to two national championships and four Final Four appearances in 19 seasons. The team and Donovan described his departure as a mutual decision. Thunder general manager Sam Presti said he couldnt give Donovan the assurances he wanted about the future.
Paul has 28, helps Thunder force Game 7 against the Rockets
Oklahoma City Thunder's Dennis Schroder (17) is forced to pass the ball as Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook, bottom center, Jeff Green (32) and P.J. Paul gave the Thunder at least one more game at Disney, scoring 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter for a 104-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night in Game 6 of a Western Conference first-round series. But they combined for 12 of the Rockets' 22 turnovers, saying Houston has lost the close games more than Oklahoma City won them. Houston got its most dominant playoff victory in Game 5, winning 114-80 after holding Oklahoma City to 31.5% shooting. Oklahoma City extended it to eight, but Houston wiped that out with an 18-4 run that provided a 98-92 lead.
It's Game 7 for Thunder-Rockets, Game 2 on tap in Heat-Bucks
The winner moves on to Game 1 of a West semifinal series against the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The Rockets had a six-point lead with the ball with 4:01 left in Game 6, a perfect chance to close out the game and the series. Thats it.Jimmy Butler had a playoff career-high 40 points for the Heat in their 115-104 win in Game 1. It was the second time since March 2 that Antetokounmpo played more than 30 minutes and scored less than 20 points. The Bucks have won two consecutive series after dropping Game 1s, rallying to beat Orlando this season and Boston last season.
The NBA MVP finalists: Antetokounmpo, James and Harden
A trio of past winners of the award reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, four-time MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and 2017-18 winner James Harden of the Houston Rockets were announced Saturday as the finalists for this seasons top NBA individual honor. Antetokounmpo is bidding to become the 12th back-to-back winner of the award, and Harden is vying for his second MVP in three seasons. The other finalists for NBA honors:Rookie of the Year Ja Morant, Memphis; Kendrick Nunn, Miami; Zion Williamson, New Orleans. Sixth Man Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles Clippers; Dennis Schroder, Oklahoma City; Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers. Defensive Player of the Year Antetokounmpo; Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers; Rudy Gobert, Utah.
Heres 10 things to know about the NBA season restart
The games start Thursday night at Walt Disney World, and here's 10 things to know as the season enters its restart phase. SHORTER SEASONIf all the seeding games get played, then this NBA season would include 1,059 games a drop of 171 from what was planned when the season began. Its now on pace for somewhere around 25,700 3-pointers which would be just shy of the second-most in a season in NBA history. That would be the record; the NBA had 12 teams finish there in the 2009-10 season. REDICKS STREAKNew Orleans guard JJ Redick has played 13 previous NBA seasons, going to the playoffs in all of them.