The Chicago Bulls are vying to open the new year with a third straight victory as they travel to D.C. for a showdown with the struggling Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
The Bulls are coming off a 115-108 overtime win over the Hornets in Charlotte on Monday. Coby White led the way with 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Bulls outscored Charlotte 17-10 in OT after allowing a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.
Zach LaVine missed Monday’s win as he was a late scratch with a toe injury. LaVine, who leads the Bulls in scoring with 22 points per game, is a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game.
The Bulls’ first of consecutive wins came on Saturday night, as they handed Milwaukee its second straight loss in a 116-111 thriller at home. White put the Bulls ahead for good with 31 seconds remaining as he buried a midrange pull-up for a 113-111 lead before the Bulls eventually iced it at the free throw line.
White has continued to emerge as a key contributor for the Bulls, averaging 18 points per game after a career-high 19.1 points per game last season.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan said White’s ability to impact games in different ways has been the best part of his evolution as a player.
“I think he was so focused on wanting to play well for himself that he started, I think, to look at the fact that (he had) to impact winning.
“I think generally with a young player, you go to, oh, âI’m going to impact winning by what I do well, and what I do well is score.’ When that’s not there, now what are you doing? I think his defense over the years has gotten better. He finds ways to rebound, come up with loose basketballs, get assists. He’s doing a lot of different things.”
Nikola Vucevic has also remained a steady force for Chicago, averaging 20.6 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The Wizards enter Wednesday’s game after suffering consecutive losses to the visiting New York Knicks, falling 136-132 in overtime on Saturday and 126-106 on Monday.
Justin Champagnie registered a career-high 31 points on 13-of-15 shooting in Saturday’s loss, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 55-point outburst from Jalen Brunson.
Monday was a performance more in line with what the Wizards have consistently produced this season. Jonas Valanciunas led the team with 22 points off the bench as only two starters scored in double figures (Alexandre Sarr and Malcolm Brogdon with 18 points apiece).
Jordan Poole has been the Wizards’ offensive engine throughout the season, averaging 21.3 points per game. Poole has missed the Wizards’ last two games with a hip injury suffered in last Thursday’s win over the Hornets and is currently listed as a game-time decision against Chicago. The Wizards did get Kyle Kuzma back on Monday as the forward played for the first time since suffering a rib injury on Nov. 27, finishing with nine points in 21 minutes.
“We need everybody,” Valanciunas said. “(Kuzma) missed quite a bit of time. It’s going to take some time for him to get back in the rhythm, but it’s very good to see him back. Very good to see him hooping and enjoying the basketball again. And hopefully, he’s not going to go down again.”
