Hutchison healthier, but Harrison stays a starter
For the second game in a row, Chandler Hutchison was active. But Shaq Harrison started for the fourth straight game.
Hutchison didn't play at all in Charlotte on Saturday and he stayed on the bench during Monday's first half against Portland. The second-year forward missed the two previous games with shin splints.
It's probably a matter of Hutchison getting some practice time before he gets back into a game. But Harrison has brought some extra energy to the floor since joining the starters.
"Nobody's saying that's Shaq's spot forever," coach Jim Boylen said before Monday's game. "Nobody's saying that we won't have other guys play there. We'll see what happens. Right now, Shaq's starting there. Tough, competitive guy, played very well against Detroit (last Wednesday). We're 2-1 with him in the starting lineup and we'll see how it goes."
The Bulls have used the same starting lineup all season, except for that one spot. Otto Porter has started nine games, Hutchison five and Harrison four.
"Everybody needs to grow and get better," Boylen said. "I want two-way players (offense and defense). We know the teams that win have more two-way players than other teams. Toronto won the championship, they had 8 or 9 two-way players. We're looking for guys that can guard and make decisions on the offensive end in an efficient manner. That's what we're coaching."
LaVine doesn't cut corners:
Zach LaVine delivered one of the best performances you'll ever see in the NBA on Saturday in Charlotte. He hit 13 of 17 shots from 3-point range, tied for second-most all-time, scored 49 points and buried the game-winning 3 with 0.8 seconds on the clock.
Before Monday's game, coach Jim Boylen talked about some of the things that led to LaVine's best game as a pro.
"He just ran," Boylen said. "I thought he got to the corner as good as he has all season and I thought he was ready to let it go and he let it go with confidence. I think we had 15 corner 3s that we shot, which is good for us.
"I thought we moved that ball in the first half as good as we've moved it, and he was the benefactor of that. Some nights you're the guy that's open, some nights you're the guy that's getting people open, some nights you're the guy that's creating for people. Zach has the ability to do all three of those things."
Bull horns:
Luke Kornet is back with the team about a week after nasal surgery. Coach Jim Boylen wants him to get some practices in before he returns to the active roster. ... Boylen said Otto Porter did some work on the elliptical machine and did some light shooting on Monday. Porter missed his ninth game Monday with a left foot sprain.