Josh Giddey took matters into his own hands on Sunday afternoon.
The Chicago Bulls came into Sunday afternoon determined to break a losing streak that had grown to 11 games, and through three quarters that looked like a strong possibility, but a truly ridiculous fourth quarter sealed that fate.
Josh Giddey--who has been playing below his usual standards as of late--got off to a hot start, collecting 8 points and 4 assists with no turnovers in the opening frame. He controlled the game from the opening tip, dictating pace and having a strong performance as a shot-maker (7-14 from the field, including 5-11 from 3-point range).
Matas Buzelis--who had scored in double figures in four straight games to end February--continued to be an impact player with a pair of blocks and 20 points, but had some new help one the wing in the form of 6-foot-10 forward Leonard Miller.
Miller produced 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal and 2 blocks in 27 minutes, an unexpected big contribution off the bench. He did a solid job of matching up with Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma, as well as battling with Myles Turner and Jericho Sims when the opportunity presented itself.
Donovan had nothing but positive things to say about Miller postgame.
"You know he's got a really good feel of how to play, he's long...he passes it well, he's a good shooter, I think he impacts the game a lot of different ways, like, he's on the glass, he's around the basket, he can make a three, he can put it down. We've gotten really good minutes, ya know, from him the last couple games."
It was nice for Chicago to have some additional size on the floor, and Miller's activity level, especially in the paint, was huge for a shorthanded Bulls team.
Collin Sexton was key for the Bulls on Sunday, scoring a game-high 22 points off the bench and generally punishing a Bucks defense that was not locked in in time for Sunday's early game. The Bucks pick-and-roll defense particularly left a lot to be desired, with Nick Richards getting several lobs with little-to-no resistance.
While most Bulls fans have already turned their eyes to the NBA Draft Lottery odds, the players and coaches are still battling extremely hard for positive results, so it was nice to see them pick up a hard-fought win.
Chicago's role players played a solid role in the win. Guerschon Yabusele continued to plug away from deep, knocking down 2-7 from 3-point range. Yabusele also collected 3 steals on the night, finishing as one of four Bulls players to have at least 2 steals in the win. Nick Richards continued to be a reliable lob threat for Giddey and Co., sending the United Center crowd into a frenzy as the Bulls started to pull away for good.
The Bulls get-right win stops the losing streak at 11 games, and gives the Bulls a fresh start heading into March. Bulls Nation will be locked in on March Madness, but the Bulls will be focused on a big matchup with the reigning NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder, before a five-game West Coast road trip.