The exhausted Toronto Raptors could muster just eight players against fellow Eastern Conference playoff contenders Chicago Bulls, but discovered a surprise star in what ended a close 122-113 defeat.
And the LA Lakers lost again, but LeBron James delivered a warning to the rest of the NBA that he and fellow superstar Anthony Davis are finally ready to return to the court.
Meanwhile the Utah Jazz continued their record of home dominance, while Paul George exploded for 33 points as the LA Clippers snapped the Suns’ winning streak.
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Fri, 09 Apr
Friday April 9th
BULLS TOPPLE EXHAUSTED RAPTORS
Chicago’s new look roster is blending together nicely as the Bulls had seven players in double figure scoring in beating the shorthanded Toronto Raptors.
Orlando import Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine scored a team-high 22 points each for the Bulls, who are battling the Raptors for the 10th and final playoff spot in the East standings.
LaVine completed a double-double with a game-high 13 assists for the Bulls, who had opened their current road trip with a 113-97 win at Indiana.
Markkanen contributed 18 points, White had 15 and Theis 14 for the Bulls, who showed a lot more depth off the bench than the Raptors.
The Bulls improved to 22-28 while Toronto dropped to 20-32 on the season. With its second win over Toronto, the Bulls clinched the three-game season series and the teams meet again on May 13 in Chicago.
Lauri Markkanen, Coby White and Daniel Theis came off the bench to provide double-figure scoring for the Bulls, who have won two straight after a six-game skid.
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ANOTHER NBA SUPERSTAR BUYS INTO NBL
This game had already proved problematic for the Raptors – it was earlier rescheduled when a COVID-19 outbreak meant they had less than the minimum number of players available to play, and just one assistant coach available. But even with the rescheduled date, the Raptors could muster just eight players.
Five stars were out through injury while another was suspended. A pair of replacements are coming on short-term deals but couldn’t be cleared in time.
Surprise star Chris Boucher carried the offensive load with 38 points and 19 rebounds for the Raptors, who completed a four-game home stand.
It was a career performance by Boucher – who became the first Raptors player to record a 35-plus points, 15-plus rebound night since the legendary Chris Bosh in 2010, and the first-ever Canadian to reach that statline.
The fourth-year player went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft, but was picked up by the Golden State Warriors, with whom he played one game as they won the title in 2017-18.
After being waived, he was picked up by the Raptors and sent to the G-League, where be won the MVP and defensive player of the year awards – and then beat his former Warriors team in the NBA finals to earn his second ring.
Nevertheless, his long journey has seen him struggle to succeed against star rivals at times – leading him to make this brutal declaration about his play his post-game interview.
“I’ve been getting bullied … and I’ve had enough of that,” he said.
“He had a night that’s for sure,” said Toronto coach Nick Nurse. “He was taking shots I don’t think I have ever seen him take before. He had some really good moments on defence too. He is getting to start now and he is getting big minutes.”
Boucher’s incredible journey also includes one remarkable story from college. Playing in his senior year for the University of Oregon, he suffered a torn ACL during the PAC-12 tournament semi-finals against California (in 2017).
He played on and finished the game with 10 points and four rebounds – and the extent of his season-ending injury was only discovered thanks to an MRI the next day.
HEAT BEAT LAKERS – BUT COP OLADIPO CONCERN AS LEBRON TEASES RETURN
Also, Jimmy Butler scored 28 points to lead the host Miami Heat to a 110-104 win over the mistake-prone Los Angeles Lakers.
Miami also got 18 points from Victor Oladipo who left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent knee injury.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored a team high 28 points for the Lakers who gave up eight more points than Miami on turnovers.
The Lakers have struggled mightily without LeBron James and Anthony Davis – going 4-5 since the pair were both on the injury list. Davis hasn’t played since February 14, while James joined him on the sidelines on March 21.
But the defending champions could be back on track soon, with LeBron James posting a photo of himself alongside AD with this threatening caption: “The weatherman says the weather is changing soon and it predicts a thunderstorm is coming. Folks prepare and take the proper caution measures to stay safe”.
JAZZ ON FIRE
The Utah Jazz claimed a 23rd-straight home win after Donovan Mitchell scored another big bag of points. His 37 points against Portland Trail Blazers was his second-straight night of 35-plus points, as the Jazz ran out 122-103 winners.
Rudy Gobert put up 18 points with 21 rebounds, while Aussie Joe Ingles hit 13 points with an equal game-high six assists.
Damian Lillard hit 23 points for Portland, but they couldn’t hand the league leaders a third-straight defeat.
GEORGE LEADS CLIPPERS TO BIG WIN
Paul George hit 33 points on the back of 7-from-9 three-point shooting as the LA Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 113-103.
In a battle of two of the Western Conference’s top teams, George struck his eighth 30-point game of the season, leading the way as the Clippers nailed 18 shots from deep.
Kawhi Leonard added 27 points including 19 in the second half, to go with five rebounds and five assists. And Rajon Rondo hit season-highs with 15 points and 9 assists.
Down by six with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Clippers fought back to tie things with an 8-2 run, and opened the fourth quarter with a 10-2 run to take the game into their hands.
Devin Booker had 24 points for Phoenix, while Mikal Bridges had 20.
OTHER SCORES
Mavericks 116, Bucks 101
Cavaliers 129, Thunder 102
Pistons 113, Kings 101