Bulls' Markkanen hits 100 3-pointers faster than any player in NBA history
Lauri Markkanen completed an impressive milestone Monday, reaching 100 made 3-pointers faster than any player in NBA history.
Markkanen hit 100 in his 41st game, beating the standard set by Portland's Damien Lillard in 44 games. Told of his accomplishment in the locker room, Markkanen needed to have the news repeated.
"I didn't know that," he said. "I'm just trying to play my game. I always knew I could shoot, so I try to work on it every day. I'm kind of happy I've been able to make shots."
Markkanen scored 17 points and went 3-for-6 from 3-point range in the Bulls' 119-111 victory over Miami. Career 3-pointer No. 101 gave the Bulls some breathing room with 1:08 left.
Then with the clock winding down and Miami trying to foul, Markkanen brought the ball downcourt with Heat defenders pulling on both arms, somehow managed to hit a bank shot and finished the 3-point play.
Before the free throw, with encouragement from teammates, Markkanen flexed his biceps.
"I don't normally do that, but I had to wear sleeves today, so I was kind of deferring to Bobby (Portis) because he always does that," Markkanen said sheepishly.
LaVine times two:
In his first two games back from knee surgery, Zach LaVine scored a combined 32 points, shot 57 percent from the field and hit 5 of 8 shots from 3-point range.
At the end of Monday's second quarter, LaVine got his first chance at late-clock isolation and made it work, hitting a 3-pointer while getting fouled by Miami's Josh Richardson.
After the game, LaVine said he still has room to improve with his conditioning. Most of his court stints have been four minutes or less.
"Conditioning's a big part of it," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We've got get him moving the ball at times when it's not there as opposed to playing with it. When he goes right into his move, he's pretty darn good. When he holds it and allows the defense to lock in and load on him, then we're generally not getting a great possession. You just see him, he's going to get more comfortable as we go on."
Bulls horns:
Justin Holiday set a career-high by knocking down 7 baskets from 3-point range on 11 attempts Monday. Holiday hit 6 3-pointers twice earlier this season and is shooting 47.6 percent from behind the arc this month. … Miami lost guard Tyler Johnson early in the third quarter with an ankle injury when he got tangled up with Robin Lopez on a drive.