Strong finish vaults Bulls past Pelicans

[February 26, 2024]  Nikola Vucevic had a double-double and four teammates scored in double figures as the visiting Chicago Bulls defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 114-106 on Sunday night.
 
Vucevic finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 24 points, Ayo Dosunmu had 21, Coby White 16 and Alex Caruso 12 for the Bulls, who snapped a two-game skid.  

Feb 25, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (3) lays on the court after being run into by New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Ingram, returning from a two-game absence due to illness, scored 22 but just four in the second half, while Zion Williamson finished with 19. Herbert Jones had 15, Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and 17 rebounds, Matt Ryan scored 14 and Trey Murphy III had nine points and 10 rebounds to lead the Pelicans.

The Pelicans scored the first six points of the third quarter to increase their lead to nine points.

They expanded the lead to 82-70 before the Bulls scored the final 11 points to pull within one point at the end of the third quarter.

The lead changed hands five times early in the fourth quarter before Andre Drummond's three-point play gave Chicago a 96-89 lead.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Jones each made a 3-pointer to help New Orleans close within 100-97.

Dosunmu and White each made a 3-pointer and the Bulls increased their lead to seven points with two minutes remaining.

The Pelicans got within two points on a Valanciunas field goal with 52 seconds remaining, but DeRozan answered with a 3-pointer.

Murphy and Jordan Hawkins each made a 3-pointer during a 10-0 run that gave New Orleans an 18-10 lead.

Dosunmu scored 10 points during a 15-0 run that helped Chicago open a 28-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Bulls took their biggest lead of the half when Terry Taylor's 3-pointer pushed the margin to 37-27.

Ryan made one 3-pointer and Jones made two as the Pelicans scored the next 11 points to take a one-point lead.

The score was tied eight times before Murphy's 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left gave New Orleans a 60-57 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media

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