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Atlanta improved to 40-39 to climb over the
.500 mark for the first time since March 10. The Hawks moved
into a tie with Toronto, but because they hold the tiebreaker
over the Raptors, effectively took possession of eighth place in
the East with three games remaining in the regular season.
The Bulls (38-41) lost for the third time in five games but
clinched a spot in the play-in when Orlando lost to visiting
Cleveland earlier Tuesday. Chicago is in 10th place in the
conference.
Atlanta already had ruled out De'Andre Hunter for the third
straight game due to a bone bruise and muscle strain in his left
knee. On Tuesday afternoon, however, the team announced point
guard and leading scorer Trae Young would miss the game with a
non-COVID illness.
Bogdanovic got the start in Young's place.
Dejounte Murray had 17 points and nine assists for Atlanta.
Saddiq Bey (18 points), Jalen Johnson (16) and Onyeka Okongwu
(11) also scored in double figures.
Chicago fell behind 13-2 in the first quarter and trailed by as
many as 20 in the contest. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 26
points to spark a balanced attack. DeMar DeRozan followed with
21 points and Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Patrick Williams (15 points) and Patrick Beverley (11) were
next.
The Hawks earned a split of the season series, with Atlanta and
Chicago winning two games apiece. Two of the first three
meetings between the teams were decided by buzzer-beaters. The
teams hadn't met since Jan. 23.
Atlanta shot 55.6 percent from the floor in the first half to
take a 65-53 lead into the break. Bogdanovic led the Hawks with
16 points before intermission, while Johnson (12 points) and Bey
(11) followed.
LaVine paced the Bulls with 15 first-half points and Vucevic
added 10.
--Field Level Media
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