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Zipser will try to become consistent bench contributor for Chicago Bulls

After a bad loss in Atlanta on Friday, Fred Hoiberg said the coaching staff would "look at everything" and presumably make necessary changes in Saturday's game against Sacramento.

Well, the only real change against the Kings was rookie forward Paul Zipser getting a seat at the adult table.

Zipser was the Chicago Bulls' first substitute of the game and also replaced Doug McDermott in the closing lineup. The 6-foot-8 forward from Heidelberg, Germany, contributed 13 points and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes of action.

Jimmy Butler gave Zipser an endorsement after the Bulls pulled out a 102-99 victory at the United Center.

"He's good and he's constantly working on his game," Butler said. "When you're out there, you're like everybody else. You've got the freedom to do whatever you want on the offensive end. You go down and key in on defense and help us get some stops. He's going to be really good in this league for a long time."

Chances are good Hoiberg made the same assessment after Friday's loss that has held true all season. The Bulls have a clear star player in Butler, an obvious second-best player in Dwyane Wade, and beyond those two there is no telling which players will contribute on a given night.

Now the question for Zipser is the same one posed often to McDermott, Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis and so on. Will he become a consistent contributor or disappear back on the bench after a few games?

Zipser seemed confident when talking about his rise in the rotation after Saturday's victory.

"I think it's now 40 games in, a little bit more. I got some chances, took advantage of them and showed everybody what I can do," he said.

Here's a positive spin on Zipser's situation: Because of his history with injuries, it's possible he was undervalued as an NBA prospect and will turn out to be a second-round steal.

Zipser missed most of the 2012-13 season with a foot injury, then tore a knee ligament in 2014, causing him to scrap plans to attend a U.S. college.

"I think everybody has some issues," he said. "I had bad luck in my past with my injuries, but I know my body now and I have to work every day to stay healthy. The first part of the season, my back was a little weak, so we kept working on it every day."

Zipser's experience has some similarities to Cristiano Felicio last year. Both were afterthoughts when the season began but impressed with good skills and basketball IQ when chances to play arrived.

McDermott's performance has been particularly frustrating. He was playing well, with five straight double-figure scoring games, fell into a slump, then seemed to snap out of it by scoring a career-high 31 points at Memphis last Sunday.

Take away the game against the Grizzlies, though, and here's what McDermott has done in the last seven contests - 24 percent shooting from the field and 22 percent from 3-point range while averaging 5 points per game.

Zipser speaks English very well, for which he credits the German school system and playing on pro teams with American teammates.

"Basketball language is not a problem," he said. "Sometimes I have some issues with language and everyday things. Everybody in Germany learns to speak English."

Fortunate call confirmed:

The NBA's last-two-minute report from Saturday's game stated the obvious: Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins should not have been called for a foul on Dwyane Wade's missed breakaway dunk with 14 seconds left in a tie game.

Cousins was irate after the final horn, as evidenced by a garbage can lying on its side in the hallway. Inside the locker room, his reaction was sarcastic.

"I think they made the absolute right call," Cousins said. "Incredible job by the referee crew tonight. I don't have a complaint in the world. I think they should get more recognition for how well they ref these games. I don't think they get the credit they deserve. Kudos to them, and I applaud them."

The report also said referees should have called traveling on Cousins before his lane drive and basket that put the Kings ahead with 52.4 seconds left.

• Get the latest Bulls news via Twitter by following @McGrawDHBulls.

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