Scoreboard
Kings 121, Spurs 114
Pistons 100, Heat 90
Trail Blazers 105, Grizzlies 100
Bulls 115, Lakers 110
Timberwolves 111, Mavericks 105
Suns 137, Hornets 106
What went down
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 115-100, in their first game back after two postponements due to health and safety protocols.
DeMar DeRozan starred for the Bulls as he finished with 38 points on 11-of-24 shooting from the field. He did not attempt a single 3-point shot and missed only one of his 17 free throws.
The Lakers played with a depleted roster. Anthony Davis is out for at least four weeks due to a knee injury, while seven players – Malik Monk, Avery Bradley, Talen Horton-Tucker, Austin Reaves, Dwight Howard, Kendrick Nunn, and Kent Bazemore – recently entered the league’s health and safety protocol.
Even the coaches were affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, which caused head coach Frank Vogel and assistant Phil Handy to miss the game.
This allowed Isaiah Thomas to move up to the starting position in his second game with the Lakers under a 10-day contract. Trevor Ariza also made his season debut after his right ankle surgery.
The Bulls, on the other hand, played without Zach LaVine, Matt Thomas, Ayo Dosunmu, Troy Brown Jr., and Alize Johnson. However, Chicago’s play did not seem affected by the week off. They came in with excellent ball movement and good rhythm. They held the lead for the majority of the first half, stretching it by as many as 10 points.
The Lakers came back kicking in the second half, as the lead went back and forth between the two teams until the final few minutes of the game. The Bulls had a plus-7 in offensive rebounds, which turned out to be crucial as the clock was winding down.
DeRozan was on fire in the fourth, making 19 of the Bulls’ 32 points in the final period. The Lakers could not put a stop to DeRozan’s explosion and eventually succumbed to a five-point defeat.
DeMar DeRozan WENT OFF for 19 PTS in the 4th vs. the Lakers 🔥 pic.twitter.com/C11TO9RNFE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 20, 2021
Big-time baller
Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton played big-time against the San Antonio Spurs. Hield finished with 29 points and became instrumental in the final minutes of the match as he made 18 of Sacramento’s 30 fourth-quarter points.
Haliburton also had quite a night, ending the match with a double-double. He had a season-high of 27 points and tied his career-high of 11 assists as he helped steer the Kings into their 13th win.
Season-high 27 PTS 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) December 20, 2021
Career-high tying 11 AST 🏀@TyHaliburton22 leads the @SacramentoKings charge in the win! pic.twitter.com/RDIZzWrEZb
What he said
COVID-19 continues to spread, and the NBA, like the rest of the world, is now having trouble handling the situation. The league announced the postponement of five games this week due to an overwhelming number of players and staff members entering the medical protocols.
The NBA has announced the following: pic.twitter.com/rnNhuq0hc1
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 19, 2021
Did you see that?
Defensive plays do not get as much attention, but when a block is this flashy, it deserves a spot in the highlight reel. That’s a big NO from the big guy in Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jaren Jackson Jr. wasn't having it 🙅??? pic.twitter.com/3Gpm7mV11f
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 19, 2021
