Dunn does it right as Bulls edge Charlotte
Anytime the rebuilding Bulls resemble an actual NBA team is cause for celebration.
Their third victory of the season, a 123-120 win over the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center, included some actual promising signs.
Topping the list was point guard Kris Dunn finally playing like someone who deserved to be chosen No. 5 overall in the 2016 draft. Dunn scored a career-high 22 points, added 7 assists and 5 rebounds, and delivered some clutch plays down the stretch.
In the locker room, Dunn showed a sense of humor when he was asked if this was his best game.
“I think we can all agree on that,” he said.
It's been a frustrating start to his NBA career, no question. Chosen by Minnesota with the No. 5 pick last year, Dunn played sparingly as a rookie, then was sent to the Bulls in the Jimmy Butler trade.
“The thing that excites me most about Kris is the 7 assists, 1 turnover,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “That's huge growth for Kris Dunn. He went out there and made the right play darn near every time he had the ball in his hands.”
Dunn started the night averaging a team-worst 3.3 turnovers per game. Erratic shooting has been an issue going back to his college years.
On Friday, Dunn hit 10-of-16 shots and was perfect on a pair of 3-point attempts. He tied the score at 98-98 on a 3-pointer with 6:54 left. Twice in the final 2:25, Dunn put the Bulls ahead with a driving basket. He also drove into the lane and dished to Justin Holiday for a 3-pointer.
“It started with practice,” Dunn said.: Try to build good practice habits, maybe it will lead to the game. Try to slow my game down and try to think before you do certain things. So far, it's working out for me but I have to keep on proving.”
Dunn wasn't the only solid contributor. Holiday, who became a father on Monday, scored 27 points. Denzel Valentine, who started Friday's game, scored 18 points and hit some big shots.
Rookie Lauri Markkanen, meanwhile, scored 16 points and delivered the defensive play of the game. Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker was virtually unstoppable, scoring 47 points and hitting 17 of 27 shots.
The Hornets (5-9) gained possession with 10.5 seconds left trailing by 1. They set a high screen for Walker and he popped out with a clear path to the basket. Markkanen slid over and made a nice contest without fouling, and Walker's layup attempt rolled off the rim. Markkanen grabbed the rebound and hit 2 clinching free throws.
“He played that one like a vet, straight up and down,” Holiday said. “I'm glad to see he knows about being vertical. If he had tried to block the shot, that situation could have been different.”
Improved point guard play will be important for the Bulls (3-10) as they leave for a four-game West Coast road trip. Jerian Grant continued to start, producing 10 points and 5 assists on Friday.
“Just a really overall solid performance by Kris, certainly something he can build on,” Hoiberg said. “It's exactly what we need, we need that leader that has the ball in his hands the majority of the game. That's Jerian and Kris.”
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