Bulls nearly blow big lead, hold off Kings 113-106
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Zach LaVine scored 28 points and made four free throws in the final 11 seconds, and the Chicago Bulls overcame a sloppy fourth quarter to hold off the Sacramento Kings 113106 on Monday night (Tuesday, PHL time).
Lauri Markkanen had 20 points and seven rebounds, Wendell Carter Jr. added 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Tomas Satoransky scored 14 points as Chicago snapped a threegame losing streak.
The Bulls (7-14) led by 19 early in the second half but had trouble hanging on. Chicago committed eight of its 18 turnovers in the fourth quarter and made only one basket over the final 4.5 minutes.
Buddy Hield hit a step-back jumper that pulled the Kings to 102-100 with 2:18 remaining. After Markkanen made two free throws, he and Hield exchanged 3-pointers to make it 107-103.
Sacramento got the ball back but Hield missed three shots from beyond the arc in the last 36 seconds, and LaVine closed the game out at the free throw line.
Hield finished with 26 points for Sacramento. Richaun Holmes added 20 points and nine rebounds.
The Bulls took control with a 21-6 run to start the second quarter. After Carter, Kris Dunn and Markkanen scored on consecutive dunks, Markkanen added a 3-pointer — Chicago’s fifth of the period — and Lavine made a reverse layup to extend the lead to 54-39.
Sacramento trailed by 19 early in the third quarter, then went on a late run to pull to 84-74 after a pair of free throws from Harrison Barnes.