The Bulls “Big Three” came up with some amazing stats against the Sixers.
The Chicago Bulls are in a groove right now, winning three in a row and putting themselves in a position to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. Their biggest win in the second half of the season came on Monday night as they defeated the Eastern Conference powerhouse Philadelphia 76ers in double-overtime. In that game, the Bulls “Big Three” of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic achieved a statistical feat not seen since 1978.
Two-way play
In the Bulls’ 109-105 win last Monday, each of the mentioned three recorded at least 20 points and three steals. LaVine led the way with 26 points and three steals, DeRozan had 25 points and three steals, while Vucevic added 21 points and four steals. According to the NBA, they are the first Bulls trio to accomplish the rare feat since the 1977-1978 season.
Indeed, defense was the name of the game for the Bulls last Monday, as they came away with 12 steals and held the Sixers to shooting just 42%. However, their biggest defensive sequence came when it mattered most, as forward Derrick Jones Jr. came flying out of nowhere to turn away James Harden’s potential game-tying layup in the second overtime.
Playing with desperation
The numbers may be impressive, but the numbers that DeRozan cares about are in the win column. Despite their up-and-down season, the Bulls have put themselves in a good position to advance to postseason play.
