Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 35 points in three quarters, Lauri Markkanen added 22 and the Chicago Bulls snapped a three-game losing streak with a 136-102 victory over the road-weary Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
LaVine, who sat out the final 14 minutes, was 12 for 15 from the field, including 7 for 7 from 3-point range.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 11 points and 10 rebounds and rookie Coby White had 19 points.
Trae Young had 15 points and 13 assists, Alex Len scored 17 points and rookie Cam Reddish added 16 for Atlanta, which has dropped two straight and 13 of 15.
The Hawks were coming off 135-121 overtime loss in Miami on Tuesday night — a game in which they led by six points with less than a minute remaining.
Atlanta didn’t arrive at its hotel until about 3 a.m.
Chicago scored the final 10 points of the first half for a 66-52 lead at the break. LaVine led the way with 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting before the intermission.
The Bulls continued the surge and took their largest lead to that point, 93-69, on a layup by Carter with 4½ minutes left in the third quarter.
LaVine had 17 points in the third on 5-for-6 shooting, including 4 for 4 from long range, as Chicago took a 106-87 lead into the fourth.
The Bulls put the game away with a 19-3 run early in the final quarter for a 125-93 lead.
TIP-INS
Hawks: Chicago native and former Bull Jabari Parker had 11 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes.
Bulls: F Otto Porter will be sidelined an additional four-plus weeks after an MRI revealed a small fracture in his left foot. Porter, who hasn’t played since Nov. 6, originally was diagnosed with a sprain before a follow-up MRI two weeks later showed a bone bruise. He’ll be reassessed in four weeks. “It’s heartbreaking for him and, obviously, difficult for us,” coach Jim Boylen said. “He’s a big wing and a 40% 3-point shooter. His experience, talent, versatility is something we need.”
YOU GOTTA BELIEVE
Young’s reaction with 59 seconds to go in Miami — he swung his arms apart and yelled, “It’s over!” — received plenty of attention because the Heat scored the next 22 points. Young offered a mea culpa with mostly emojis on Twitter following the game, but coach Lloyd Pierce said he had no issue.
“You gotta love his confidence,” Pierce said. “Celebrate. There’s nothing wrong with that. It wasn’t in anyone’s face. He’s celebrating his team’s success in a position to win on the road.”
UP NEXT
Hawks: Host the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
Bulls: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night in the first of back-to-back home games.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
