DeMar DeRozan, Bulls hold off Blazers

[March 19, 2024]  DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting and the Chicago Bulls escaped with a 110-107 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
 
Ayo Dosunmu posted a double-double with 23 points and 10 assists for the Bulls (34-35), who earned their second win in a row and their third in the past four games. Nikola Vucevic finished with 22 points and nine rebounds.  

Mar 18, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Anfernee Simons scored 30 points and dished out nine assists to lead Portland (19-49). Deandre Ayton registered a double-double with 25 points and 15 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who lost their third consecutive game.

The Bulls nearly squandered a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead before securing the victory in the final seconds.

Dalen Terry made a 3-pointer to put Chicago on top 92-77 with 11:28 remaining in the fourth.

The Trail Blazers battled back and nearly stole the game from the Bulls. Portland went on a 28-10 run to seize a 105-102 lead with 2:35 to play.

DeRozan answered with a three-point play to even the score at 105-105 with 2:28 left.

The score remained tied until the final minute, when Alex Caruso made 1 of 2 free-throw attempts to give the Bulls a 106-105 edge with 49.1 seconds left. Vucevic added a basket to make it 108-105 with 9.3 seconds to go.

Chicago fouled Simons to prevent a 3-point attempt in the closing seconds. Simons made two free throws to bring Portland within 108-107 with 7.4 seconds to go, but then DeRozan responded with two free throws of his own to boost Chicago's lead back to three points.

Caruso blocked Simons' final 3-point attempt to end the game.

The Bulls outscored Portland 35-26 in the third quarter to pull ahead 89-75.

DeRozan set the tone with a 3-pointer to start the scoring in the second half. Torrey Craig and Caruso added one 3-pointer apiece in the next few minutes as the Bulls increased their lead to double digits at 69-58.

Onuralp Bitim drained a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to give Chicago a 14-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

Chicago led 54-49 at the half.

--Field Level Media

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