Well-rested Bulls follow LaVine, DeRozan's lead to third straight win
After so much downtime during the past two weeks, would the Bulls show some rust or be rested and ready to roll?
Turned out, they looked like a group just back from a well-earned vacation. Zach LaVine scored 32 points and the Bulls gift-wrapped a 113-105 victory for interim coach Chris Fleming on Sunday at the United Center.
"I'm just glad I got a couple of practices in," LaVine said, who was in health and safety protocols for the second time in the calendar year. "I'm tired of getting COVID."
This was the Bulls third game in 15 days, thanks to three contests being postponed. Two were called off because the Bulls had too many players in protocols, then one when Toronto was short-handed.
When this game ended, the Bulls hopped on a flight to Atlanta for a meeting on Monday. According to the injury report, the Hawks currently have 10 players in protocols.
The Bulls lost three players to protocols on Sunday afternoon and two other regulars out with injuries, so they played without Lonzo Ball (protocols) and Alex Caruso (left foot sprain), who have been defensive catalysts all season.
Then with head coach Billy Donovan also in protocols, Fleming got a chance to sit in the captain's chair for the first time in the NBA. The New Jersey native had been a head coach in Germany, but only an assistant in the NBA.
After the game, he was asked if he texted Donovan to hurry up and get back, like DeMar DeRozan did to LaVine last week.
"We've spoken quite a bit today," Fleming said. "It's hard, Billy's probably the most competitive guy I've ever been around, so he just really wants to be here and be a part, but I thought he really helped our staff.
"He said, 'Hey listen, I'm here if you need me. You guys just go ahead and coach and help these guys win.' I think his support was really important."
The Pacers didn't have anyone in protocols Sunday, but point guard Malcolm Brogdon was scratched with a sore right Achilles.
The Bulls (20-10) were comfortably ahead for most of the night. But when Indiana got within 8 late in the contest, LaVine answered with a tough fallaway jumper, then a drive to the basket to pretty much end the final threat.
DeRozan added 24 points, while center Nikola Vucevic finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Caris LeVert led Indiana with 27 points.
Fleming kept the rotation to nine players, using Ayo Dosunmu, Troy Brown Jr., Matt Thomas and Tyler Cook off the bench. That group held their own, winning the bench points 20-19.
"Obviously it's very different," Fleming said of his interim role. "I've never coached an NBA game before. But I think our staff was really locked in. Josh (Longstaff) had the scout, did a good job and just handled that. Mo (Cheeks) has been there a ton before and I thought his guidance was really important for me."
The Bulls were sharp in the first half, using balanced scoring to build an 18-point lead. Rookie Chris Duarte sparked a Pacers rally in the third quarter, trimming the advantage to 8 heading into the fourth.
The Bulls started the final quarter with an 8-2 run and Indiana (14-20) didn't make up much ground until LeVert hit a 3 to make it 108-100 with 3:18 left.
"I thought we had a stretch where we were a little funky and they made a run," Fleming said. "Zach scored 2 quick buckets and assisted on another one and I thought that was a really important phase for us, because I don't think we were going anywhere. Poor movement offensively and he just kind of took the game over."
The Bulls improved to 10 games over .500 for the first time since 2016.
"I'm really proud of how these guys have handled themselves and dealt with some adversity and kept coming back and playing the right way," Fleming said. "I think they really earned that place in the standings."
• Twitter: @McGrawDHSports