Wizards
Wizards win the third quarter 40-20, then hold off a late Bulls rally to win 124-120
The Washington Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 124-120 at the United Center. Washington trailed by five at halftime, outscored Chicago 40-20 in the third quarter, then held on through a 38-27 Bulls fourth quarter. The Wizards came in 2-2 and eighth in the East, and the Bulls came in 1-3 and 11th, on a two-game losing streak that this loss extends.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 9 h ago01The story of the nightThe third quarter decided itChicago led 62-57 at halftime after winning the second quarter 35-29.
Chicago led 62-57 at halftime after winning the second quarter 35-29. Then the game turned. Washington scored 40 points in the third quarter and held the Bulls to 20. That gave the Wizards a 97-82 lead going into the fourth, and their biggest lead of the night reached 21. Chicago pushed back with a 38-27 fourth quarter but started too far behind to catch up. The lead changed hands 12 times, and the Bulls never led by more than 10. Isaac Okoro finished at -21 in 13.5 minutes, the worst plus-minus on either side.
02Washington's top performersTrae Young led the Wizards with 25 points and 9 assists.
Trae Young led the Wizards with 25 points and 9 assists. He shot 6 of 13, made 4 of 10 threes and went 9 for 9 at the line, though he was -10 in 33.8 minutes. Kyshawn George added 22 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks and was +14. Off the bench, Justin Champagnie had 11 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists with no turnovers. His +18 was the best mark in the game. Anthony Davis scored 19 but needed 21 shots to get there, going 8 of 21. Alex Sarr made 5 of 7 shots for 10 points and blocked 3 shots.
03Chicago's top performersCaleb Wilson carried the Bulls with 30 points and 14 rebounds in 38.4 minutes.
Caleb Wilson carried the Bulls with 30 points and 14 rebounds in 38.4 minutes. He shot 10 of 24, made 9 of 11 free throws, had no turnovers and was +14. Matas Buzelis scored 21 on 7-of-13 shooting and went 5 for 5 at the line. Norman Powell added 18 points and 4 steals, but he also committed 4 turnovers and shot 4 of 12. Josh Giddey ran the offense with 10 assists, 8 rebounds and 9 points, also with no turnovers. Jalen Smith scored 14 on 5-of-11 shooting but was -8.
04Where it was wonWashington won inside.
Washington won inside. The Wizards outscored Chicago 62-54 in the paint and blocked 7 shots to the Bulls' 1. They shot 47.9 percent from the field to Chicago's 43.0 and won the rebounding battle 56-53. Their bench outscored Chicago's 41-28. The Bulls had their own edges. They got 34 fast-break points to Washington's 9, scored 22 points off turnovers to the Wizards' 8 and had 10 steals to 5. They went 28 of 30 at the line. But they shot 12 of 43 from three, and Washington's size in the half court made up for the transition gap.
05What it meansWashington came into the game 2-2, eighth in the East, coming off a loss.
Washington came into the game 2-2, eighth in the East, coming off a loss. This was a road win built on bench scoring and a dominant third quarter, with George and Champagnie doing the work inside. Chicago came in 1-3, 11th in the East, and on a two-game losing streak. This loss extends that streak, and it came at home. Wilson's 30 and 14 and the Bulls' running game kept them close. The 20-point third quarter and the poor three-point shooting are what they need to fix.
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