The Chicago Bulls made up a 19 point second half deficit to get the game into overtime and found a way to get their third win in a row 123-118 over the Toronto Raptors. With the win the Bulls go back over the .500 mark at 19-18. Toronto dropped to 24-12 with the loss.
The teams played a very even first quarter. The biggest lead the Raptors could build in the quarter was four points while the biggest lead the Bulls could get was three points. Jerian Grant hit the last basket of the quarter with .31 seconds left to give the Bulls a one point lead at 29-28.
The 2nd quarter started off very even as well with the teams trading the lead three times. With Toronto holding a one point lead at 39-38 they went on a 11-0 run to take there first double digit lead of the game at 50-38. The Bulls never got closer than eight points the rest of the quarter and the Raptors where able to keep a double digit lead heading into half time at 61-48.
The 3rd quarter saw the Raptors post there biggest lead of the game at 19 points at 82-63 with 3:42 left in the quarter after a DeMar DeRozan hit a pair of free throws. The Bulls did finish the quarter on a 11-4 run, but that cut the Toronto lead to 12 points at 86-74 heading into the 4th quarter.
With a double digit deficit to make up the Bulls didn’t so themselves any favors early in the quarter as Toronto held a 13 point lead 96-83 with 8:40 left in the game. It took a 16-3 run by the Bulls to get the game even at 99 all with 3:33 left to play. It looked as though the Bulls would win the game in regulation when Doug McDermott hit a 3-pointer with :39 seconds left to put the Bulls ahead 107-105. Then Dwayne Wade fouled DeMar DeRozan with :31 seconds left and after DeRozan hit both free throws the game was headed to overtime tied at 107 all.
The Bulls got out to a five point lead 116-111, but the Raptors where able to get right back in the game and cut the lead to two points at 116-114. That was as close as the Raptors could get as the Bulls scored five of the game final seven points to pull away to a 123-118 victory.
Jimmy Butler was the Bulls and the games high scorer with 42 points. Dwayne Wade added 20 points and had a team high 7 assists. Doug McDermott (17 points) and Nikola Mirotic (12 points) came off the Bulls bench to score in double figures. McDermott and Butler tied for the game high in rebounds as they each grabbed 10 boards. As a team the Bulls made 36 of the 39 free throws they shot.
DeMar DeRozan was the Raptors high scorer with 36 points. Kyle Lowry just missed a triple-double scoring 27 points handed out a game high 12 assists and grabbing a team high 9 rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas and Cory Joseph each scored 14 points for the Raptors.
The Bulls will get a day off before they put there three game wining streak on the line Monday night as they host the 22-16 Oklahoma City Thunder. Tonight was the first of a back to back for the Raptors. Toronto returns home tomorrow to face the 29-9 Houston Rockets.
Sports Time Radio 