It took overtime, but the Toronto Raptors finally ended their 11 game losing streak against the Chicago Bulls 122-120 on Tuesday night. The Bulls had a double digit lead as late as the 3rd quarter before the Raptors went on a run. In the end it was Toronto who picked up the victory and at this point in their season you have to wonder if the Bulls are better off missing out on the playoffs and going into the draft lottery.
The Bulls took a very quick five point lead at 7-2 with Rajon Rondo scoring five of the Bulls first seven points. Jimmy Butler gave the Bulls a nine point lead at 15-6 with 7:16 left in the quarter. Chicago kept the lead at or around nine points until the Raptors went on an 8 to 2 run to make the score 27-25 with 1:46 left in the quarter. The teams traded baskets before Jimmy Butler hit two free throws to give the Bulls a 31-27 lead after one quarter.
Chicago was able to push it’s lead to 10 points 39-29 when Denzel Valentine hit a 3-pointer with 10:03 left in the quarter. A Paul Zipser 3-pointer gave the Bulls their biggest lead of the quarter at 49-33 with 6:50 left in the quarter. Toronto scored seven straight points to get the Bulls lead under double digits at 49-40. The Bulls where able to held onto their lead going into halftime, but DeMar DeRozen hit a 3-pointer with :02 seconds left to cut the lead to five at 59-54 going into halftime.
The 3rd quarter looked like it was going to be a very even quarter as the teams just seemed to be trading baskets. Rajon Rondo then hit a 3-pointer with 5:47 left in the quarter and that started a run of 13 to 2 to take a 16 point lead at 88-72. With 3:58 left in the quarter Serge Ibaka of the Raptors and Robin Lopez of the Bulls got into it after Lopez knocked the ball out of Ibaka’s hands. Unlike most NBA fights both men threw punches and where ejected from the game with 3:58 left in the quarter. There was a long review of the altercations before the ejections where made. After both players where tossed from the game Toronto was able to knock one more point off the Bulls lead. Chicago took a 94-79 lead heading into the final quarter.
The 4th quarter started off looking like the Bulls would pick up another victory over the Raptors. With 6:39 left in the game Paul Zipser hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulls a 15 point lead at 109-94. In stead of cruising to a victory the Bulls saw the Raptors go on a 15 to 0 run and tie the game at 109 all. The Bulls then scored four points in a row only to see the Raptors come back and tie the game again to send it into overtime at 113 all.
The Bulls scored first in overtime, but Toronto then scored the next eight points in a row to take a 121-115 lead. While Jimmy Butler did hit the final basket of the game with just :02 seconds left it wasn’t enough as the Raptors broke their 11 game losing streak to the Bulls 122-120.
DeMar DeRozen was the Raptors and the games high scorer with 42 points. DeRozen also had 8 assists which tied for the game high in that category. Corey Joseph had 19 points while Serge Ibaka had 16 points before being ejected. P.J. Tucker grabbed a game high 12 rebounds for Toronto.
Jimmy Butler was the Bulls leading scorer with 37 points. Butler also grabbed a team high 10 rebounds for Chicago. Rajon Rondo added 24 points and tied for the games top assists honors with 8. Paul Zipser and Robin Lopez (before his ejection) each scored 12 points for the Bulls.
With the win the Raptors improve to 42-29. The loss drops the Bulls record to 33-38. This was the first of back to back games for both teams. Toronto will head to Miami to face the 35-36 Heat tonight. Chicago will head home to face the 34-37 Detroit Pistons tonight.
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