White makes little history in Bulls’ win; LaVine, too
It’s great company to keep.
Then again, whenever a rookie finds himself in the same neighborhood as an accomplishment by Michael Jordan, it’s usually a good night.
‘‘He’s the GOAT,’’ Bulls guard Coby White said of Jordan. ‘‘It means a lot. Like I always say, keep trying to get better each and every game. I feel like I’m taking a step in the right direction. Gotta keep it going.’’
White had it going Sunday. He became the first Bulls rookie since Jordan to notch backto-back games of 30 or more points, and his 33 points helped the Bulls to a 126-117 victory against the Wizards. The result ended the Bulls’ eight-game losing streak.
And White wasn’t alone. Fellow guard Zach LaVine finished with 32 points and set a franchise record for most three-pointers in a season by breaking Ben Gordon’s mark of 173 set in 2008-09.
White said he was happy to play a key role in ending the Bulls’ skid.
‘‘You saw the streak we were on,’’ said White, who also scored 33 points in the Bulls’ loss Saturday to the Suns. ‘‘We needed it badly. That’s always good.’’
It isn’t the first time White has been mentioned in the same sentence with Jordan. Last season at North Carolina, White passed Jordan on the all-time scoring list for a freshman before the Bulls selected him with the No. 7 overall pick in June.
And while White has had some big moments this season, being passed over for the Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend didn’t sit well with him. Since then, he is averaging 26 points.
‘‘Obviously, you want to play in the Rising Stars game,’’ White said. ‘‘You’re going to use that as fuel. But it wasn’t like I was pissed about it . . . . It was more like I’ve just gotta keep being me. I always play with a chip on my shoulder, so that’s what I’ve gotta keep on doing.’’
White’s performance, however, wasn’t even the biggest of the night. Wizards guard Bradley Beal scored a career-high 53 points in a losing cause.
Status quo
Coach Jim Boylen would have loved to report that help was on the way, but that’s not the case. At least not yet.
Monday will be a big day for the Bulls’ walking wounded. The players dealing with injuries will get a workout while the healthy players are off. After that, Boylen should have a better idea of who will be available Tuesday against the Thunder.
Big man Wendell Carter Jr. (right ankle) and forward Otto Porter Jr. (left foot) seem to be the closest, with swingman Denzel Valentine (hamstring) right behind them.