Game ID: 22300823
Chicago Bulls @ New Orleans Pelicans
Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 21 39 22 24 106CHI 28 29 24 33 114
CHI @ NOP ScoutingCHI @ NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restBACK Jones back 2/05 after 2, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 18 min since (92% of 19)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 5 min since (36% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Jones back 2/05 after 2, 31 min since (100% of 31)
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 15 min since (80% of 19)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 5 min since (36% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Daniels missed 3 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 17 min (102% of 17)
OUT Ryan missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 14)
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 18 min since (95% of 19)
NOP availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Daniels missed 4 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 19 min since (97% of 19)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 17 min since (102% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 4 min since (26% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Ingram missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 39 min (117% of 33)
OUT Daniels missed 5 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 17 min since (91% of 19)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 20 min since (119% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 4 min since (26% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 6 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 39 min since (117% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (109% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (80% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT McCollum missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 34 min (105% of 33)
OUT Daniels missed 7 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 36 min since (109% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (107% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 8 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 25 min (135% of 18)
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 33)
BACK McCollum back 2/28 after 2, 34 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (107% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NEW Jones 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/05 · 3 days' restOUT Daniels missed 9 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 33 min since (99% of 33)
BACK McCollum back 2/28 after 2, 30 min since (91% of 33)
BACK Alvarado back 3/01 after 3, 25 min since (135% of 18)
CHI availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 6 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Bitim missed 45 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Terry missed 4 since 1/31, returns tonight: 12 min (102% of 12)
BACK Craig back 2/03 after 22, 17 min since (88% of 20)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 35 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 7 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Bitim missed 46 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Craig back 2/03 after 22, 18 min since (92% of 20)
BACK Terry back 2/10 after 4, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Caruso 29 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Drummond 17 to 22 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 8 since 1/28, not on tonight's roster
OUT Bitim missed 47 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Craig back 2/03 after 22, 20 min since (101% of 20)
BACK Terry back 2/10 after 4, 16 min since (141% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Caruso 29 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Drummond 17 to 23 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Bitim missed 48 since 11/06, returns tonight: 2 min (21% of 12)
BACK Terry back 2/10 after 4, 13 min since (114% of 12)
NEW Vučević 34 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Drummond 17 to 26 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restBACK Bitim back 2/22 after 48, 2 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Terry back 2/10 after 4, 13 min since (111% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 36 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Craig missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Bitim back 2/22 after 48, 2 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Terry back 2/10 after 4, 13 min since (115% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 38 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Craig missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Bitim missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 28 min (236% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 38 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Craig missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Bitim back 2/22 after 48, 15 min since (129% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Drummond 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/04 · 2 days' restOUT Craig missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Bitim back 2/22 after 48, 15 min since (132% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Drummond 17 to 24 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Ingram at 17 a game. Without Ingram (2 straight), Daniels (5 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and White at 21 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 102 a night to Chicago's 117 and the arc, Chicago at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 34. Call it New Orleans 115, Chicago 109.
2/12 @ MEM 96-87 — NOP notes
NOP won 96-87. NOP shot 41% (32 of 78) to MEM's 42%, 13 of 35 from three, and went to the line 24 times to MEM's 8 — 19 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 49-36 for them. Jones led with 17 (5 of 9, 3 of 6 from three); Ingram added 16, Williamson 14. The hinge was Q2, 30-21: a lead of 5 became 14, and the lead reached 25. Nance Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
2/14 vs WAS 133-126 — NOP notes
NOP won 133-126. NOP shot 56% (50 of 89) to WAS's 48%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 29 times to WAS's 20 — 23 points from the stripe to their 17. NOP turned it over 10 times to WAS's 19. Williamson led with 36 (15 of 21, 6 of 9 at the line); McCollum added 26, Ingram 18. The hinge was Q4, 34-28: a lead of 1 became 7, and the lead reached 20. Marshall was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/22 vs HOU 127-105 — NOP notes
NOP won 127-105. NOP shot 52% (50 of 96) to HOU's 44%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 18 times to HOU's 28. NOP turned it over 13 times to HOU's 22. McCollum led with 28 (11 of 22, 4 of 10 from three); Williamson added 27, Valančiūnas 20. The hinge was Q2, 32-23: a lead of 4 became 13, and the lead reached 29. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
2/23 vs MIA 95-106 — NOP notes
NOP lost 95-106. NOP took 22 more shots (104 to 82), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 38% to MIA's 46%, 7 of 32 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIA's 25. Williamson led with 23 (9 of 22, 5 of 6 at the line); Jones added 19, Hawkins 14. Q2 was theirs, 34-27, the deficit cut from 7 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 79-61 against them. Williamson's -23 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 vs CHI 106-114 — NOP notes
NOP lost 106-114. NOP shot 45% (40 of 88) to CHI's 43%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 14 times to CHI's 21. NOP turned it over 19 times to CHI's 9, and CHI turned those into 12 steals. Ingram led with 22 (7 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Williamson added 19, Jones 15. Q2 was theirs, 39-29, turning a 7-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 85-67 against them. They led by as many as 12. Nance Jr.'s -24 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/27 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and DiVincenzo at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Randle (12 straight), Anunoby (12 straight), Robinson (37 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Ingram at 19 a game. Without Daniels (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 111, New York 110, New York keeping it close.
2/28 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Turner at 21 and Siakam at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Nesmith (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Ingram at 21 a game. Without McCollum (2 straight), Daniels (7 straight), Alvarado (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Indiana minus-5 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 109 a night to Indiana's 118. Call it Indiana 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/01 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Williamson at 23 a game. Without Daniels (8 straight), Alvarado (3 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Mathurin at 20 a game. Without Nesmith (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 119 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 13 times a game to Indiana's 10. Call it New Orleans 118, Indiana 117, Indiana keeping it close.
3/05 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Barrett at 24 and Quickley at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ingram at 28 and Williamson at 19 a game. Without Daniels (9 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 107 a night to Toronto's 121 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-1 a night and Toronto minus-4. Call it New Orleans 116, Toronto 114, Toronto keeping it close.
2/10 @ ORL 108-114 — CHI notes
CHI lost 108-114 in 1 overtime. CHI took 11 more shots (99 to 88), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to ORL's 47%, 12 of 37 from three, and got to the line 14 times to ORL's 26. CHI turned it over 8 times to ORL's 15. DeRozan led with 28 (11 of 24, 1 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Vučević added 26, Dosunmu 19. Q3 was theirs, 36-28, turning a 2-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 86-72 against them. They led by as many as 11.
2/12 @ ATL 136-126 — CHI notes
CHI won 136-126. CHI shot 55% (51 of 92) to ATL's 47%, 13 of 28 from three. CHI turned it over 6 times to ATL's 11. Dosunmu led with 29 (12 of 18, 5 of 7 from three); DeRozan added 29, Vučević 24. The hinge was Q2, 34-26: CHI came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 1. Dosunmu was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/14 @ CLE 105-108 — CHI notes
CHI lost 105-108. CHI shot 46% (38 of 83) to CLE's 48%, 14 of 33 from three. CHI turned it over 14 times to CLE's 8. White led with 32 (11 of 17, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); DeRozan added 24, Dosunmu 12. Q1 was theirs, 32-25, but the other 3 periods went 83-73 against them. They led by as many as 17. Vučević's -11 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/22 vs BOS 112-129 — CHI notes
CHI lost 112-129. CHI took 11 more shots (94 to 83), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to BOS's 54%, 10 of 28 from three. Vučević led with 22 (10 of 19, 0 of 3 from three); C. White added 20, DeRozan 19. Q2 was theirs, 39-28, turning a 8-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 101-73 against them. C. White's -26 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 @ NOP 114-106 — CHI notes
CHI won 114-106. CHI shot 43% (41 of 95) to NOP's 45%, 13 of 40 from three, and went to the line 21 times to NOP's 14 — 19 points from the stripe to their 10. CHI turned it over 9 times to NOP's 19. DeRozan led with 24 (6 of 13, 2 of 4 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Vučević added 22, Dosunmu 21. The hinge was Q4, 33-24: CHI came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 8. CHI trailed 57-60 at the half and won the second half 57-46.
2/27 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Vučević at 21 a game. Without Craig (2 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Fontecchio at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Stewart (11 straight), Sasser (2 straight), Milton (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 15 times a game to Chicago's 10 and the glass, where Chicago has been plus-1 a night and Detroit minus-3. Call it Chicago 119, Detroit 111.
2/28 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and Vučević at 20 a game. Without Craig (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Allen at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Chicago's 33. Call it Chicago 113, Cleveland 112, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/01 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Vučević at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Craig (4 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 100, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 29 and Lillard at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Middleton (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 100 a night to Chicago's 114 and the arc, Milwaukee at 38 percent from three to Chicago's 31. Call it Milwaukee 114, Chicago 112, Chicago keeping it close.
3/04 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Monk at 19 a game. Without Fox (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and Vučević at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Craig (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to Chicago's 30 and the glass, where Chicago has been plus-6 a night and Sacramento plus-1. Call it Sacramento 117, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CHIAC A. Caruso
AD A. Dosunmu
AD A. Drummond
CW C. White
DD D. DeRozan
DT D. Terry
JC J. Carter
NV N. Vučević
TT T. Taylor
VU Vucevic
NOPBI B. Ingram
HJ H. Jones
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
MR M. Ryan
TM T. Murphy III
ZW Z. Williamson
CHI/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan lead the Bulls past the Pelicans 114-106
NEW ORLEANS -- — The consistent scoring and rebounding that Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has provided through 13 NBA seasons was on full display in a gritty and gratifying road victory over a Pelicans squad that has been in good form lately.
Vucevic had 22 points and 13 rebounds for his 31st double-double this season — not to mention the 500th of his career — and Chicago defeated New Orleans 114-106 on Sunday night to sweep the season series.
“It’s a nice achievement for sure," Vucevic said of his career double-double milestone. “It speaks about the work I put in and being consistent, and it’s something I take a lot of pride in, mainly because of the rebounding. As a big man, it’s a big part of our job.”
DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points, including a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to give the Bulls a 111-106 lead. To him, the game exemplified the Bulls' determination not to quit on a season marred by major injuries.
High-scoring guard Zach LaVine had season-ending foot surgery in early February, and Sunday's game was the first since Chicago learned that regular reserve forward Patrick Williams also would miss the rest of the season with his foot injury.
“It’s always easy when you have any type of adversity to fold, to make excuses, to give in, to pack it in, to whine, complain, you know,” DeRozan said. “You don’t hear that from none of us. We just try to figure it out the best way we can.”
Ayo Desunmu added 21 points for Chicago, which also finished with a significant edge at the foul line, hitting 19 of 21 free throws while New Orleans made 10 of 14.
Zion Williamson scored 19 points, tied a career-high with 11 assists and grabbed nine rebounds for the Pelicans, who dropped their second straight game after winning eight of nine. Brandon Ingram , back from a two-game absence caused by a non-COVID illness, scored 22 points but committed nine turnovers. Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points and 17 rebounds for New Orleans.
The Pelicans took their largest lead at 12 points when rookie Jordan Hawkins hit a driving floater to make it 82-70 late in the third quarter. But Chicago responded by scoring the last 11 points in the period, starting with Vucevic's 3 and ending with Jevon Carter 's rainbow pull-up near the baseline to make it 82-81.
"That segment definitely swung the moment a bit, but it came down to us," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “We turned the ball over, not giving ourselves to come down and run good offense. They're getting out in transition and getting easy baskets.”
New Orleans was playing without two regular ballhandlers, including starting guard CJ McCollum , who left the Pelicans' 106-95 loss to Miami on Friday with a sprained left ankle.
Also out were reserve point guard Jose Alvarado and reserve wing player Naji Marshall , who were suspended for their involvement in a scuffle with Heat players .
“We can’t use that as an excuse,” Green said. "We can come down and execute. We can come down and make simple plays.”
Williamson and Jones served as primary ballhandlers on a starting lineup that also featured Valanciunas, Ingram and Trey Murphy III .
The Pelicans committed 19 turnovers in all — seven in the first quarter, which the Bulls closed on an 18-3 run. Dosunmu hit twice from deep during the spurt. DeRozan made a 3 and converted a three-point play on a pull-up jumper.
The Pelicans had a turnover-free second quarter, when they outscored the Bulls 39-29. Ingram scored 13 points during the period and Murphy's third 3 of the half gave New Orleans a 60-57 lead at the break.