The Chicago Bulls had won two of there first three games on there road trip. Last night they ran into what could be there biggest challenge of the season. A road game against the team with the best record in the NBA the Golden State Warriors. The Bulls came into the game very short handed as they played without there top two players Jimmy Butler and Dwayne Wade. Jimmy Butler missed his third straight game with a bruised heel and Dwayne Wade also sat this game out with an upper respiratory illness. As it turned out the short handed Bulls didn’t stand much of a chance as they dropped a 123-92 game to the Warriors.
With the game tied early at 11 apiece Golden State went on a 15 to 2 run to take a lead that they wouldn’t give up. The Bulls managed just 17 points in the 1st quarter as Golden State put up 30 1st quarter points to take a 13 point lead after one quarter 30-17.
The Bulls hung together with the Warriors in the 2nd quarter. Golden State did outscore the Bulls in the quarter, but just by one point 25-24. The closest the Bulls could get in the quarter was eight points when Isaiah Canaan hit a jumper with 8:15 left in the quarter to make the score 32-24. The Warriors pushed the lead right back to double digits. Draymond Green hit a lay up with :08 seconds left to send the Warriors to the locker room with a 14 point lead 55-41.
Chicago played another tough quarter in the 3rd as this time the Warriors only outscored them by two points in the quarter 31-29. Golden State took there first 20 point lead of the game when Klay Thompson hit a 3-pointer with 10:34 left in the quarter to give Golden State a 63-43 lead. While the Bulls weren’t able to get the lead down to single digits they did cut the Warriors lead down to 11 points at 75-64 with 4:09 left in the quarter. The Warriors scored the last points of the quarter to take a 16 point lead at 86-70 after three quarters.
After playing tough on the 2nd and 3rd quarter the Bulls couldn’t stay with the Warriors in the final quarter. Golden State outscored the Bulls 37-22 in the 4th quarter to pull away for an easy victory. Golden State took a 21 point lead when Kevin Durant hit a jumper with 5:03 left in the game to make the score 106-85. Damian Jones then put the Warriors up 31 points when he hit a jumper with 2:15 left in the game to make the score 119-88. The teams managed just seven points combines in the final couple of minutes of the game, but the outcome was pretty much decided by then. Golden State ended up with a 123-92 victory.
Klay Thompson was Golden State’s and the games high scorer with 28 points. Kevin Durant scored 22 points and tied for the game high in rebounds with 10. Draymond Green had 19 points while Stephen Curry and JaVale McGee each scored 13 points. Kevon Looney came off the Warriors bench to score 10 points. Durant was also the Warriors leader in assists handing out 7 in the game.
Without there top two scorers the Bulls where led by Robin Lopez who put up a double-double with 17 points and tying for the game high in rebounds with 10. Taj Gibson just missed his own double-double scoring 15 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Jerian Grant scored 12 points while Rajon Rondo came off the Bulls bench to score 12 points and hand out a game high 8 assists. Nikola Mirotic also reached double digits off the Bulls bench with 10 points.
The loss drops the Bulls back under .500 at 26-27. They’ll continue there road trip Friday night as they face the 16-37 Phoenix Suns. It has yet to be announced if Jimmy Butler or Dwayne Wade will play in this game. With the win the Warriors improved there NBA best record to 44-8. The Warriors also play next on Friday night, but they head out on the road to face the 33-22 Memphis Grizzlies.
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