The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks look at things differently after playing the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season.
But the evaluation following Sunday’s 152-150 Chicago victory can’t last long since the same two clubs meet again Tuesday in Atlanta to complete the season series.
Both teams set season highs for most points in a half and most points in a game. Chicago had nine players in double figures for only the fourth time in franchise history. The Bulls have won the first two games against the Hawks.
With his team finally healthy, Bulls coach Billy Donovan believes his team, which has won three straight and four of its last five, is trending in the right direction.
“Like I said all along, this group’s unselfish, they play together,” Donovan said. “You want to be able to play in a way that’s sustainable, which I think we did in New Orleans. We just shot it so poorly. But I think we did that (against Atlanta) and have been trying to do that. The way we’re moving the ball, sharing the ball, the kind of shots we’re generating, to me, is sustainable.”
Matas Buzelis recorded a season-high 28 points and a career-high seven three-pointers. Ayo Dosunmu moved into 15th place on the club’s all-time 3-point list when he hit one against the Hawks; he has 351 for his career.
Donovan admitted the Bulls need to get better on defense.
“Listen, we’re not a great defensive team, but we can be better and we can improve,” Donovan said. “We can take a little bit more control over the things we can. I thought we had some blown coverages because of lack of communication. We’re capable of talking better, just different things like that.”
Atlanta coach Quin Snyder, whose team has lost three straight and seven of its last nine, must also do a better job on defense.
“We’ve got to do a better job as far as making them work harder,” Snyder said. “Our transition defense (in the first half) wasn’t as good as it needs to be and by and large we need to be better on defense.”
Atlanta was happy with the connection found between Jalen Johnson, who scored 36 with 11 rebounds and nine assists, and Trae Young, who scored a season-high 35 points and nine assists in his second game back from missing 22 games with a right MCL strain.
It was the second time in franchise history two players combined for at least 71 points and 18 assists, the other being Walt Hazzard and Lou Hudson in 1969.
“I thought Trae and Jalen really found a rhythm together,” Snyder said. “We’ve talked about that the last few games. That was good to see.”
Young didn’t play the second game of a back-to-back when he returned last week, but is expected to play on Tuesday with a minutes’ restriction in place.
Johnson took a hard fall in the first half Sunday and went to the locker room for treatment, but was able to return. Vit Krejci (20 points, 6 of 10 3-pt. FG) dislocated his left index finger, but the staff popped it back into place and he continued to play.
“Those were both significant plays,” Snyder said. “There’s a level of toughness that’s required for that.”
