CHICAGO (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu matched a season high with 22 points, Coby White scored 20 points and the Chicago Bulls overcame shaky outings by DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine to beat the Charlotte Hornets 114-98 on Thursday night.
Dosunmu made 9 of 10 shots, and White hit three 3-pointers. Nikola Vucevic added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Andre Drummond had 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bulls used a big third quarter to turn a four-point halftime lead into an 85-70 advantage heading to the fourth.
They stayed in control the rest of the way and got some payback for a loss one week earlier in Charlotte even with DeRozan and LaVine not performing to their usual standards.
DeRozan finished with 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting, after getting his sixth All-Star selection and second in as many seasons with the Bulls. LaVine scored 10 pointgs. But even with its two best players not performing to their usual standards, Chicago made enough plays to beat the team with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.
Terry Rozier scored 23 points for Charlotte. LaMelo Ball, coming off a triple-double Tuesday night in a loss at Milwaukee, added 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists before getting ejected with 1:21 remaining. He was furious about a non-call after LaVine blocked his layup and picked up two separate technical fouls. Mason Plumlee had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bulls scored the first 10 points of the second half to bump a four-point lead to 63-49.
Dosunmu started the run and finished it with layups, and Vucevic and Patrick Williams made back-to-back 3-pointers.
TIP-INS
Hornets: The Hornets, last in the NBA in 3-point percentage coming in, made 7 of 35 from beyond the arc.
Bulls: G Alex Caruso left the game with a sprained right foot. He scored seven points in seven minutes before exiting early in the second quarter. … Coach Billy Donovan said the All-Star break will be “important” for G Javonte Green as he recovers from right knee surgery. Sidelined since Dec. 31, Green has been riding a bike but is not cleared to run.
UP NEXT
Hornets: At Detroit on Friday night.
Bulls: Host Portland on Saturday night.
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