Hopping over to Atlanta fresh off of a win in Miami, the Chicago Bulls took on the Hawks without Javonte Green, Derrick Jones Jr., or Alex Caruso for the back half of the game. Despite being shorthanded, they were able to return the favor with a buzzer-beating game-winner of their own, this time thanks to the hometown kid Ayo Dosunmu. The Hawks had just beat them with a go-ahead bucket as time expired a week ago, courtesy of AJ Griffin. Chicago has won two straight and will head up to New York to face a Knicks team that beat them twice last week in consecutive meetings.
Minnesota Was A Turning Point
Since the outburst in Minnesota, allowing 150 points in a beyond-lackluster effort from the Bulls, things have seemed different between the lines. Having allowed less than 40 points in eight straight quarters since that game, the defense has been the focal point for a team plagued all season by that side of the floor. Zach Lavine, Nikola Vucevic, and DeMar DeRozan have scored 20 or more points each in three straight games, following a Knicks outing where none of the three reached that mark. There was a tone change following the embarrassing performance against the Wolves, and now it is a matter of consistency.
"More so was the way we played"... "play team basketball on both ends of the floor"..."guys were there helping each other."
Nikola Vucevic via Darnell Mayberry with The Athletic
Head coach Billy Donovan spoke on the confrontation in Minnesota, saying, "Confrontation is healthy. I think it's a good thing. At times it can be uncomfortable for people but it all comes from a good place that they all want to do it together and know they need each other." He was not present for the incident that has made the most headlines surrounding Zach Lavine, but he did mention that he supports accountability and gives the team space for that reason. That fiery locker room talk must have pulled some necessary strings, seeing these last two outings.
Ayo Steals The Show
Second-year Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu has been a fan favorite since being drafted in the second round a year ago. A lengthy and defensive-minded point guard with athleticism, he's made minor improvements since his rookie campaign but has shown flashes of a solid NBA player. Averaging consistently around three rebounds and assists per game, combined with nine points per game on 50% from the field, he's moved around the rotation throughout his couple of seasons, starting a little over half of his 106 career games. His career high in scoring was a 26-point outing in the season finale last year against the Timberwolves.
Early in December, head coach Billy Donovan switched from the young guys Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu, who'd been starting all season, to Alex Caruso and Javonte Green in the starting lineup. Dosunmu took his new role in stride, and Donovan noted that with improved aggression and efficiency, they could earn back their spot at the top of the rotation. Following the Minnesota loss, Donovan mentioned that Goran Dragic provides a spark on the floor and would be granted more minutes moving forward. Unfortunately for the second-year point guard, that meant someone had to take a step back. With Dragic, among others, being out in Atlanta, Dosunmu played 34 minutes following a mere 5 minutes against Miami a day ago. Safe to say he made the most of the opportunity.
"Last night, i didn't play the minutes i ideally want to being a competitor. But I can't take that out on my teammates. I continue to cheer for them, continue to tell them what i saw. and then i knew that whenever my time did come, i'd be ready. that's just my mentality."
Ayo Dosunmu via NBC Chicago Postgame
Lavine, DeRozan, and Donovan were among the Bulls' members who praised Dosunmu following the miraculous game-winner, echoing that he's a 'winning player.' It is very uplifting to see such a young talent bounce back from being a consistent starter to only playing five minutes, then responding with a grinding effort to pull out the victory. Does this stamp his spot in the lineup, and if so, who sees less floor time?
