DeRoz-again: Bulls win another improbable buzzer-beater
In one sense, history repeated itself. But then again, DeMar DeRozan made his own history in Washington on Saturday.
DeRozan hit a game-winning 3-point basket at the buzzer for the second consecutive game, giving the Bulls a 120-119 victory over the Wizards and their seventh straight win overall.
Keep in mind, these weren't tie game situations. The Bulls trailed by 2 on Saturday and by one in Indiana on Friday.
According to basketball-reference.com, this is the first time in the history of the NBA that a player buried game-winning shots at the buzzer on consecutive days.
The only player to ever do it in consecutive games, according to the site, was Larry Bird in 1985.
"I didn't know that," DeRozan said after the game. "Just to hit a buzzer-beater in general is amazing, especially to do it on the road. I don't know if I'm dreaming, if it's real right now. It's just something, you work your butt off, you understand when you're in those positions, try to capitalize on them the best way you can."
In some ways, this one was even more dramatic than his shot in Indiana. Kyle Kuzma hit a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left to give the Wizards a 2-point lead.
"The designed play, I was coming up to the top to shoot the 3," Zach LaVine said. "They obviously denied it and he got open, took his time like nothing was going on and knocked it down. I just put my hands on my head and just said, 'Man, what's wrong with you?'"
LaVine had the hot hand on this night, scoring 35 points while hitting 7 of 12 shots from 3-point range. DeRozan finished with 28 points and hit 10 of 22 attempts.
"My pump fake was really to gather and get my feet together so I could just get enough lift to get the ball up," DeRozan said. "A lot of my shots all night were short. It was tough playing on a back-to-back, I kind of felt it throughout the game and I just knew on that last shot, just get my legs under me and give it a chance."
DeRozan caught the inbound pass from Coby White as was curling around the foul line and dribbled into the corner. The veteran forward pump-faked Washington's Corey Kispert into the air, then shot it over Bradley Beal's outstretched arm.
"Just years in the league, understanding your footwork, understanding how to get your shot off, separation, the angles," DeRozan said. "Kind of having just a complete, full feel of what you're capable of and the options you have out there in the time that you have.
"Even the shot last night, a lot of people think it was an accident, but I knew I needed to get it off quick and I needed enough space to get the shot off."
Trailing by 10 midway through the fourth quarter, the Bulls finally tied it when DeRozan hit a midrange and was fouled, missed the free throw, but Nikola Vuceivc followed it in and completed a 5-point possession with 2:07 left.
After a Beal layup, LaVine drilled a 3-pointer to put the Bulls ahead 115-114 with 1:43 left. Bela free throws put Washington in front. After a Bulls miss, a block by Vucevic set up 2 go-ahead free throws by DeRozan with 49.2 seconds on the clock.
The Bulls (24-10) took over sole possession of first place in the East since Brooklyn lost to the Clippers.
Lonzo Ball and Alfonzo McKinnie left health and safety protocols on Saturday, but did not make the road trip. Fleming said the hope is they'll be able to play Monday when the Bulls host Orlando.
Forward Javonte Green did not play against the Wizards due to a right adductor strain. The Bulls also signed guard Mac McClung to a second 10-day contract on Saturday.
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