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Chicago dropped its third straight with a 124-110 decision
Wednesday at New Orleans. Despite 11-of-15 shooting and 28
points from DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls could not overcome giving
up a torrid 17-of-33 shooting from 3-point range to the
Pelicans.
"The difference in the game in the first half we turned it over
way too much, but it still was only a five-point game (at
halftime) with their shooting," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said,
via the team's official website. "They shot it well the whole
game. In the first half, we did a pretty good job contesting,
but there were six [3-pointers] we did not; they were way too
uncontested."
The Bulls rank among the NBA's worst defenses in opponent
3-point percentage through their first 15 games. The competition
is connecting on 38.3 percent of its attempts collectively from
beyond the arc.
On Wednesday, it was central to a loss that continued the
defensive woes for the Bulls.
Chicago gave up 250 combined points in its past two contests,
and has surrendered 121.7 points per game amid its losing streak
-- nearly 10 points per game more than the Bulls' collective
season yield of 111.8.
Chicago will look to regroup on Friday against an Orlando team
experiencing its own offensive struggles, particularly shooting
from deep. The Magic average 10.2 3-point shot points per game,
one of the league's lowest outputs, and rank in the bottom-third
of 3-point percentage at 33.6.
Offensive struggles plagued the Magic on Wednesday as they
dropped their second consecutive decision, but their 45.2
percent shooting from the floor -- including 9-of-35 from
3-point range -- was less of an issue than 16 turnovers in the
126-108 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Fifteen of those were Minnesota steals, which contributed to the
Timberwolves' dominant 30-9 advantage on fastbreak points.
The Magic will be without rookie standout Paolo Banchero (ankle)
for the fifth straight game. Banchero is Orlando's leading
scorer at 23.5 points per game in 11 games played.
Wendell Carter Jr. is probable ahead of Friday's contest, the
result of a foot injury. Their absences compound a variety of
personnel concerns the Magic have faced since the outset of the
season.
Cole Anthony hasn't played since Oct. 26 with an oblique injury
and has no definitive timetable for a return. Jonathan Isaac and
Markelle Fultz have yet to play this season.
"I'd be lying to you if I said it wasn't frustrating," Orlando
coach Jamahl Mosley said following Wednesday's loss. "I
understand it, and our guys are willing to step into the moment
and do the right thing. And they're going to play their
positions and play those moments they get, but obviously
maneuvering through it's not easy."
--Field Level Media
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