CHICAGO (AP) – DeMar DeRozan delivered another big performance and got plenty of help along the way. It added up to a well-rounded win for the the balanced Bulls even though Zach LaVine struggled.
DeRozan scored 35 points, Nikola Vucevic added 26 and Chicago used a big fourth quarter to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 134-122 on Friday night.
Tied with Milwaukee and Cleveland for second place in the Eastern Conference coming in, the Bulls went on a 15-2 run early in the fourth and outscored the Timberwolves 42-31 in the period.
“Our togetherness,” guard Coby White said. “When one has not got it going, others got to step up to the plate. Everybody stepped up big tonight on both ends of the court, especially in that second half. We came out with the win, the most important thing.”
The Bulls set season highs for points and shooting percentage (63.2) despite a rare rough outing for LaVine.
The All-Star has dealt with back and knee issues in recent weeks, and he finished with just 12 points – about half his average coming in.
Even with LaVine struggling, the Bulls had no trouble getting to the rim and making their shots.
DeRozan matched a career high with his fifth straight 30-point performance. He scored 16 in the final quarter. Vucevic had eight rebounds and seven assists. Javonte Green tied a career high with 23 points. White scored 12 of his 22 in the fourth and tied a season high with six three-pointers, and the Bulls won their second straight while stopping a two-game home losing streak.
The Timberwolves lost their second in a row following five consecutive wins.
Anthony Edwards scored 31. Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. D’Angelo Russell added 18 points.
