Bulls Observations: Zach LaVine Scores 35 Points in Overtime Win Over Wolves

Observations: Bulls need OT to close out Timberwolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The Bulls picked up their third straight win, and fifth in their last six games, with a 133-126 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the United Center Wednesday night.

Here are 17 observations:

1. This one didn't feature an ideal start for the Bulls; they allowed the Timberwolves 34 points on 61.9 percent shooting in the first quarter, trailing by two after one.

2. The factors that keyed that early Timberwolves lead have been bemoaned by Billy Donovan on myriad occasions this season. The Bulls committed 5 turnovers in the first despite shooting 70 percent from the field, and allowed the Timberwolves seven free-throw attempts, four offensive rebounds and 8 second-chance points.

3. Zach LaVine, though, scored 10 in the period for his 29th double-digit scoring quarter in the first. He entered the night ninth in the NBA in that category, and with the first, moved into a tie for eighth with LeBron James.

4. The Bulls found their footing and outscored the Timberwolves 36-24 in the second quarter, entering the halftime break shooting 63 percent, leading 68-58 and with 17 assists on 29 made field goals. Nine different Bulls notched assists in the first half.

5. The Timberwolves pulled to within four midway through the third, then as close as one early in the fourth. In fact, after the Bulls punched them back to claim a 10-point lead, the Timberwolves quickly rallied to within 117-116 with less than 60 seconds remaining. Karl-Anthony Towns missed a jumper over Wendell Carter Jr. with 31.4 seconds to play that would have given them the lead, then fouled out on the next possession.

6. Coby White had a strong start threaten to turn sour. Though he finished with 20 points -- he's averaging 21 in his last three -- 8 rebounds and 6 assists and shot 8-for-9 in the restricted area despite an off shooting night from deep (0-for-6), he committed 7 turnovers and a 3-point shooting foul on Ricky Rubio with less than five seconds to play and the Bulls ahead by three.

Rubio sank all three charity tries to send the game to overtime. White, though, did lead all scorers with 6 points in the extra period.

7. The Bulls sprinted out to a 7-0 run inside the first 93 seconds of OT and only briefly looked back. Anthony Edwards on multiple occasions trimmed the Timberwolves' deficit to four points, but the Bulls held on.

8. LaVine poured in an easy 35 points on 14-for-21 shooting (5-for-8 from deep) -- 10 coming between the fourth quarter and overtime. His 18th straight 20-point game, 16th with 30 or more on the season and eighth 30-spot in February alone.

9. But he, like White, struggled with turnovers, also finishing with 7. White, LaVine and the Bulls as a team had been trending in the right direction in the turnover department of late, but finished this one with 21, their first 20-turnover game since Jan. 15. A step backwards, especially because the Timberwolves generated 23 points off those turnovers.

10. Individual Bulls performances that warrant mention:

  • Carter posted 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks to move his averages since returning to 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1 steal (and the Bulls' record to 5-1). Though he stroked an above the break 3 in the first half -- he's now 6-for-19 on the season -- he clanked an open corner triple that allowed the Timberwolves a possession down by one point with 35.9 seconds left.
  • Thad Young posted a typical 14 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. He also drew a timely charge in overtime.
  • Tomáš Satoranský stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, making 6 of his 7 shots. After going 2-for-3 from 3-point range, he's now 16-for-33 from behind the arc on the season.
  • Patrick Williams was aggressive from the jump, draining a catch-and-shoot 3 and pull-up middy, attempting two emphatic dunks in the first half -- one of which ended successfully, the other in free throws -- and loudly blocking a shot in the first half. He finished the night with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and a block, and continues to look capable in his fill-in minutes for Lauri Markkanen at power forward.

11. The Bulls placed seven players in double figures and shot 59.1 percent from the floor.

12. This was the Timberwolves' second game under new head coach Chris Finch, who replaced the recently-fired Ryan Saunders Sunday evening. On the second night of a back-to-back, and still without D'Angelo Russell, they scrapped admirably. In addition to their points off turnovers, they pulled down 13 offensive rebounds and turned them into 23 second-chance points.

13. Towns looked mostly sharp in his 31 minutes, scoring 24 points, pulling down 8 rebounds and slinging 5 nifty assists. But foul trouble, as mentioned, derailed what could have been a truly sterling outing.

14. Edwards is a bad man. He posted 21 points (plus 6 assists) on just 7-for-20 shooting, but 12 came between the fourth quarter and overtime. He flashed silky smooth scoring and athletic ability that at times gave the Bulls fits... Oh, and he had another rad dunk

15. Luke Kornet re-entered the rotation after two straight DNPs as Donovan trotted out 10 men. Kornet missed a 3 to move to 1-for-14 from deep on the year, but did swat two shots, including one on Towns.

16. This one was too close for comfort against a team that entered play 7-25 and facing a healthy amount of adversity. But a win is a win. The Bulls have now won three straight for the second time this season, moving to 15-16 overall, 9-10 in "clutch" games and 2-1 in overtime contests. 

17. Gravy: With the Boston Celtics falling to the Atlanta Hawks earlier in the evening, the Bulls move into possession of the Eastern Conference's sixth seed.

Next up: At home for the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

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