DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine combine for 56, Bulls zoom past Wizards

CHICAGO(AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points, Zach LaVine added 27 and theChicago Bulls overcame their shooting woes from long range Sundayto beat the Washington Wizards 102-82.

Alex Carusoand LaVine each sank 3-pointers midway through the third quarter toturn a one-point deficit into a 57-52 lead the Bulls wouldn’trelinquish. Before the consecutive 3s, the Bulls converted only oneof their first 16 3-point attempts.

“We have tofind ugly ways to win games,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said.

The Bulls(28-33) won their second game in a row after losing six straight toclose the first half of the season. They finished shooting 8 of 30from 3-point range, while the Wizards shot only 6 of 28 from longrange.

BradleyBeal scored 18 points for the Wizards (28-32), who lost theirsecond consecutive game. They played without forward-centerKristaps Porzingis due to left knee soreness and guard Monte Morriswas scratched less than an hour before tip off because of lowerback soreness.

The Wizardsmanaged to stay close for three quarters thanks to balanced scoringby Beal, Daniel Gafford (15) and Delon Wright (14). Washington alsomanaged 44 points in the paint.

Beal,however, missed three free throws to start the fourth quarter, andAndre Drummond’s putback extended the Bulls’ lead to 81-72.

“We have todo a better job of screening to free up guys,” coach Wes Unseld Jr.said after the Wizards committed 16 turnovers. “A lot of them(Bulls defenders) shoot the gap and be disruptive from that regard.But those turnovers are costly. Those are empty possessions for usand leads to some transition opportunities for them.

“We got todo a better job of that, fighting force with force and manage theirphysicality.”

Despite theBulls’ struggles from long range, they had an 11-0 spurt,punctuated by a 3-pointer by Patrick Williams, to take a 32-27 leadnearly three minutes into the second quarter.

DeRozan andLaVine combined to shoot 22 for 33 from the field.

LaVine madeeight of 10 shots en route to a 17-point first half. Coby Whitecame off the bench to score 17 on 6-of-8 shooting from the field,including three 3-pointers.

“We can’tafford to have those slipups,” LaVine said of the Bulls’ twostraight victories. “Obviously, we know teams are going to maketheir runs. You get a team down, got to keep them down and closethe game out. We can’t afford to have those back-and-forths whereyou give up a big lead.”

NOTANKING

Donovansaid before the game there were no discussions with team officialsabout tanking the rest of the season. The Bulls’ first pick wassent to Orlando in the Nikola Vucevic trade, but it becomesprotected and retained if they don’t make the playoffs and theyland in the lottery within the first four picks.

“I’ve neverhad a situation from ownership, front office, that has said,‘Listen, we’ve got an opportunity to potentially manipulate or geta higher draft pick, (saying) let’s sit these guys. let’s givethese guys an opportunity,’” Donovan said. “That’s never takenplace. I respect that and appreciate that.”

UPNEXT

Wizards:Play at Atlanta on Tuesday night.

Bulls:Travel to Toronto to play the Raptors on Tuesday night.