Even though the Philadelphia 76ers where playing without Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor they still managed a double digit victory 117-107 over the Chicago Bulls. This was just another in a line of confusing losses to teams under .500 by the Bulls this season. Luckily for the Bulls the loss didn’t cost them anything in the standings as the Detroit Pistons also lost Friday night.
The Bulls where able to jump out to a double digit lead 16-6 lead early in the 1st quarter. The 76ers cut the lead to four before the Bulls where able to rebuild it to eight at 26-18 with 2:12 left in the quarter. Philadelphia scored six of the last eight points in the quarter to cut the Bulls lead to four points at 28-24 after one quarter.
The Bulls where able to hold onto their four point lead for the first couple minutes of the 2nd quarter. With the Bulls ahead 32-28 Philadelphia went on a 10 to 0 run to take a 38-32 lead. The Bulls never got closer than that four point deficit as their offense managed just 18 points in the 2nd quarter, The 76ers where able to take their first double digit lead of the game (35-25) with 3:05 left in the 2nd quarter. The 76ers where able to build that lead to 13 points going into halftime ahead 59-46.
Philadelphia started out the 3rd quarter on a 8 to 1 run and found themselves ahead by 20 points at 67-47 early in the 3rd quarter. The biggest lead the 76ers had in the 3rd quarter was 26 points and they did that twice. The Bulls where never able to get the 76ers lead under the 20 point margin. Philadelphia took a 93-71 lead heading into the final quarter.
With a 22 point lead the outcome of the game was pretty much decided, but the Bulls offense did have a better performance in the 4th quarter scoring 36 points. While the Bulls did manage to cut 12 points off of the 76ers lead it was just a case of two little too late. Denzel Valentine hit a 3-pointer for Chicago with :03 seconds left to make the final score 117-107 Philadelphia.
Dario Saric led the 76ers with 32 points. Saric also had a team high 10 rebounds. T.J. Connell was the other Philadelphia starter to score in double figures with 10 points and a team high 8 assists. Shawn Long, Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez all scored in double figures off the Philadelphia bench. Long had 18 points, Henderson had 14 points while Rodriguez added 12 points.
Jimmy Butler was the games leading scorer with 36 points and also handed out a game high 11 assists. Nikola Mirotic had 15 points. Bobby Portis came off the Bulls bench to post a double-double. Portis had 17 points and a game high 11 rebounds. Anthony Morrow also added 10 points off the Bulls bench.
With the win Philadelphia improves to 27-45 on the season. The 76ers will get a day off before they head to Indiana to face the 36-36 Pacers Saturday night. Chicago falls to 34-39 with the loss. The Bulls will head to Milwaukee for game Saturday night against the 37-35 Bucks.
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