LaVine Powers Bulls Past Wizards 115-106
CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine had 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and the banged-up Chicago Bulls beat Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards 115-106 on Wednesday night.
Chicago placed seven players in double figures in its second win in its last nine games. Thaddeus Young had 18 points and eight boards, and Tomas Satoransky scored 18 points against his former team.
The teams played the second half with red streamers hanging from the overhead scoreboard, remnants of a Disney-themed halftime show. One of the streamers fell down during a timeout with 8:53 left in the third quarter, and two workers scurried out to pick it up before play resumed.
Beal scored 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting after he was listed as questionable because of right shoulder soreness. The high-scoring star also has been hampered lately by soreness in his lower right leg.
Jordan McRae had 16 points for Washington, which has dropped three of four. Isaiah Thomas and Davis Bertans scored 12 points apiece.
The Bulls grabbed control with a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter. LaVine made a 3-pointer to make it 106-95 with 4:56 left.
Chicago held on down the stretch while playing short-handed after Daniel Gafford and Chandler Hutchison left with injuries.
Gafford dislocated his right thumb on a steal in the first quarter. The 6-foot-11 Gafford called timeout after picking off a pass by Ian Mahinmi, and then jogged off the court in the direction of the Bulls' locker room.
X-rays were negative, and the team said he is expected to miss two to four weeks.
Hutchison got hurt when he was fouled on a dunk in the fourth, leading to a hard fall. He finished with 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting in his best performance since he returned last week after he being sidelined by a right shoulder injury.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Rookie F Rui Hachimura traveled with the team to Chicago, but remains out with a groin injury. He hasn't played since Dec. 16. "He's doing well," coach Scott Brooks said. "Shot around a little bit, very, very light shooting yesterday. ... Hopefully we can get him on the court more each day." ... C Thomas Bryant played about 12 minutes in his second game back after missing 20 games with a foot injury. The 6-foot-10 Bryant is on a minutes restriction. "He's missed a lot of time," Brooks said. "Throwing him back into the fire in the NBA competitiveness. We'll take our time still."
Bulls: F Otto Porter Jr. missed his 33rd consecutive game with a broken left foot. Coach Jim Boylen said he had no update on his status. "He's very frustrated," Boylen said. "I just try to keep him up and be positive and you know we'll take you back when you come back." Boylen said there has been no talk of shutting Porter down for the season.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Visit Toronto on Friday night. They lost 122-118 to the Raptors on Dec. 20.
Bulls: Visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night for their first meeting of the season.
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