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Tag: double figures

  • Well-rounded Bulls leaning on each other as Hawks pay a visit

    (Photo credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images)

    Pushing the ball and defending the length of the floor has been the mantra of Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan for some time.

    It is a small sample size, but the newest edition of the Bulls has proven to be a quick study to the strategy. Chicago has produced a pair of season-opening victories and is out to continue its early run against the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

    Seven Bulls players finished in double figures in scoring during Saturday’s 110-98 win at Orlando. The group effort is an ideal byproduct of sharing the ball after fighting to get it back on the defensive end.

    ‘Our depth is something we will have to lean on all year, especially with the style of play that we have,’ Chicago guard Tre Jones said. ‘We play extremely fast, especially when we are playing physical like we are (now). We are going to have to lean on everybody. We have a couple of guys down right now, so it is a next-man-up mentality.

    ‘We continue to lean on each other.’

    Jones is benefiting from increased early-season minutes as guard Coby White (right calf strain) recovers from a preseason injury. The absence of Bulls reserve center Zach Collins (left wrist fracture) has opened opportunities in the frontcourt.

    Usual suspects Nikola Vucevic and Josh Giddey have provided steady scoring, with both averaging at least 20 points through two games. Vucevic is adding 11.0 rebounds per game.

    Atlanta knows the impact of being short-handed to start the season. Kristaps Porzingis (flu-like symptoms), Zaccharie Risacher (right ankle sprain) and Jalen Johnson (right ankle sprain) each missed Saturday’s 117-100 home loss to the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

    Monday’s game marks the beginning of a four-game road trip for the Hawks, who won at Orlando on Friday around a pair of double-digit home defeats.

    Six Hawks players scored in double figures Saturday, led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17 points) and Trae Young (15). Young is optimistic that the team’s consistency will grow alongside the comfort level of a youthful rotation.

    ‘I think the positive experience some of these guys got to get with each other, and Mo (Gueye) gets more minutes and starting,’ Young said. ‘I mean, Asa (Newell) coming out there still playing in his second real (NBA) game.

    ‘I think really without those (rotation) guys, it’s hard to really judge us. But at the same time, we got games to play. It doesn’t matter and nobody cares. So, we got to keep playing.’

    Vucevic has posted a double-double in seven of his past 10 games against the Hawks.

    Atlanta has won two straight versus Chicago, but the Bulls hold a 141-122 edge in the all-time series.

    Staying physical under the boards will be key, Donovan stressed. Entering NBA play on Sunday, the Bulls ranked third in the NBA with 104.5 points allowed per game.

    ‘We’re competing, we’re putting our bodies in play,’ he said. ‘We’re trying to get on the glass and rebound.’

    –Field Level Media

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  • NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic’s triple-double leads Nuggets in home opener

    (Photo credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images)

    Jamal Murray had 23 points, Nikola Jokic notched his second straight triple-double to start the season and the Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 133-111 on Saturday night in Denver’s home opener.

    Christian Braun scored 20 points and Aaron Gordon had 17 points two nights after posting a career-high 50 for Denver, which had seven players score in double figures and shot 51.2% (43 of 84) from the field.

    Jokic finished with 14 points, 15 assists and 14 rebounds. He took just eight shots, making five, and didn’t attempt a field goal until a goaltending call on Phoenix with 2:26 left in the second quarter. His first shot attempt was a free throw with 4:18 left in the first half.

    Devin Booker led the Suns with 31 points, Grayson Allen scored 17 and Dillon Brooks had 15. Phoenix shot just 43.2% (38 of 88) from the field.

    Thunder 117, Hawks 100

    Chet Holmgren overcame back soreness that almost kept him out to produce a double-double and help Oklahoma City remain unbeaten with a win in Atlanta.

    Holmgren was listed as questionable on the pregame injury report and spent time rubbing his back during dead-ball situations. But he played through discomfort to score a season-high 31 points and grab 11 rebounds. He was 8-for-12 shooting from the floor (6-for-8 on 3-pointers).

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 of his 30 points in the third quarter. Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 17 points. Trae Young scored 15 points and had 10 assists, his league-best 22nd straight game with at least 15 points and five assists.

    Bulls 110, Magic 98

    Josh Giddey scored a team-high 21 points, five reserves combined for 58 more and Chicago held off host Orlando to win back-to-back games to start the season.

    Jalen Smith and Ayo Dosunmu led the Bulls bench crew with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Starters Nikola Vucevic (15 points) and Tre Jones (13), and reserves Patrick Williams (12) and Kevin Huerter (11) made it seven players — including four backups — in double figures.

    Despite 7-for-21 shooting, Paolo Banchero was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points for the Magic, who lost at home for the second consecutive night. Orlando went just 3-for-24 from beyond the arc.

    76ers 125, Hornets 121

    Quentin Grimes had 24 points off the bench and drilled a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to lift host Philadelphia over Charlotte for the 76ers’ second straight win to open the season.

    After trailing by 10 points with less than six minutes left, the 76ers finished the game on a 23-9 run. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points and nine assists, while Joel Embiid added 20 points.

    LaMelo Ball had 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Charlotte, while Collin Sexton added 21 points. Rookies Ryan Kalkbrenner and Kon Knueppel scored 14 points apiece, while Sion James had 10 points off the bench for the Hornets.

    Grizzlies 128, Pacers 103

    Rookie Cedric Coward erupted for 27 points behind a torrid 3-point shooting effort as Memphis rolled past visiting Indiana.

    In just his third NBA game, Coward knocked down all six of his 3-point attempts off the bench. Ja Morant added 19 points and eight assists, anchoring a clean offensive game which saw the Grizzlies commit just four turnovers.

    The Pacers got little consistent offense outside of Bennedict Mathurin, who finished with 26 points before exiting with a sore right foot. Aaron Nesmith added 15 while Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin each scored 13.

    –Field Level Media

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