Game Recap: Bulls fall to Nuggets |
Dustin Riese
· · 5 hours ago
DENVER - The main goal for any team going into the Preseason is not only to get through their schedule as healthy as possible, but also to work out all the kinks that need to be figured out before the season can start. The best way to achieve this is by securing as many minutes as possible for your entire roster, as they hold the keys to the team's success or failure.
Preseason or not, there are still things the Chicago Bulls need to correct, with the biggest being their tendency to trail by double digits early. For the fourth time in as many preseason games, the Bulls got off to a slow start, this time against the Denver Nuggets. Playing from behind is nothing new for the Bulls, as they had to scratch and claw their way back a ton last season. As nice as it is to show that fight, trailing by double digits as often as the Bulls do is a recipe for disaster, as it puts too much pressure on your offense to lead you back. Facing not only another double-digit deficit in this one, but more than a 20-point deficit at one point, it was the Bulls who were on the ropes as this was their ugliest showing of the Preseason. Even with an impressive fourth that saw Chicago outscore the Nuggets 34-20, it still wasn't enough as the Nuggets closed things out 124-117 to hand the Bulls their second straight loss. Despite the loss, this was a game where the stars shone for the Bulls, as both Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis had their best performances of the season thus far. For Giddey, he bounced out of a minor shooting slump to begin the pre-season to finish with a team high 25 points, adding nine boards and six assists with that line. He continues to do all the little things right and is proving to Chicago that he was well worth the investment they made in him. The same can be said about second-year man Matas Buzelis, as he has put the Bulls on his back all Preseason long to show he has what it takes to be the face of the franchise. With 20 points and three rebounds, Buzelis continued his fast start to the preseason, as he was one of only two players to crack the 20-point threshold. You did, however, have a trio of 11-point scorers with Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry, and Zach Collins all adding 11 points in the win. Chicago also saw Jevon Carter put forth another big game, leading the Bulls' bench with 17 points, nine of which came from deep, as he continues to battle for a more defined role this season. As expected, Superstar players make Superstar plays, and Jamal Murray was a superstar in this one, leading all scorers with 30 points. He was one of six Nuggets to record a double-digit output, four of which came from the starting five. Joining Murray in having a big game was the Joker Nikola Jokic, who capped his night off with 18 points. Jokic did a little bit of everything in this one, pulling down eight boards and dishing out seven assists as he continues to be the premier big in this league. Another strong 17-point effort from Aaron Gordon and an 11-point performance from Cameron Johnson closed out the quartet of starting players to land in double figures, as the Nuggets' starters sent the message from the opening tip on. Alone with four starters driving the bus, they weren't the only ones coming up clutch as two more players put forth a strong impression off the bench. Peyton Watson led the bench with 12 points, with Tim Hardaway Jr. rounding out the strong performances with 10 points in a Nuggets win. Next up for the Bulls is a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, as they will close out the preseason with one more home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday before the regular season gets underway.
