Chicago Bulls Beat Dallas Mavericks 125-107 On Pride Night
The Chicago Bulls hosted the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. The Bulls defeated the Mavericks 125-107 at the United Center on Pride Night. Chicago improved to 18-20, while Dallas fell to 14-25.
In case you missed it, Chicago’s game with the Miami Heat at the United Center on Thursday night was postponed due to the moisture on the floor, which made the court unplayable. The referees, head coaches, and the NBA made the decision. The rescheduled game date is TBA.
Dallas dropped a 116-114 decision to the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on Thursday night. Cooper Flagg led the Mavs with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Chicago Bulls vs. Dallas Mavericks Starters
The Bulls and Mavs struggled in recent days. Entering Saturday’s game, Chicago lost three games in a row, while Dallas dropped one game. Both teams have struggled to string together wins.
Chicago’s starting lineup featured Coby White, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic. Chicago ruled out Noa Essengue (shoulder), Josh Giddey (hamstring), Zach Collins (toe), Jalen Smith (concussion), and Yuki Kawamura (lower leg). Chicago listed Kevin Huerter (back) as day-to-day.
Dallas’ starting lineup featured Ryan Nembhard, Max Christie, Flagg, Naji Marshall, and Daniel Gafford. Dallas ruled out Dante Exum (knee), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Anthony Davis (hand), Brandon Williams (illness), and PJ Washington (ankle).
Bulls vs. Mavericks Recap
Saturday’s game showcased a non-conference matchup. This wasn’t a rivalry, but the Bulls and Mavs faced each other in 88 regular season games entering Saturday’s game. Dallas held a slight edge in wins, with 46 compared to Chicago’s 42.
The first quarter was a high-scoring affair. Buzelis rejected Marshall’s pass. Christie drained three-pointers in front of the hometown crowd. Christie, 22, was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and raised in Chicago, Ill. Referee Scott Foster ejected Head Coach Jason Kidd for double technical calls. Assistant Coach Frank Vogel took over from there. Chicago took a 36-28 lead to end the first.
The second quarter saw a slow start but gradually picked up the pace. Okoro finished a two-handed jam, and Thompson drained a mid-range shot. The Mavs went on a 9-0 run to tighten up the game. The Bulls didn’t sit back and relax, with around 50% shooting from the field, Chicago took a 66-55 lead into halftime.
The third quarter shrugged off a slow start. The Mavs inched closer as the Bulls turned the ball over 10 times compared to the Mavs’ four early on. Marshall got buckets. Marshall, 27, also avoided defenders to score points in the paint. Chicago took a 94-79 lead through three quarters.
The fourth quarter started sluggish but sped up. Buzelis went to the rack with a strong take. The Mavs cut the score as close as four points after trailing by double-digits in the first half. However, Dallas fell further behind. Chicago won 125-107 in regulation.
Next Steps
The Mavs begin a four-game homestand starting with the Brooklyn Nets on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Central. Both the Mavs and Nets are flawed. However, Dallas can beat Brooklyn if they capitalize on their offensive capabilities while ensuring an effective defense. Brooklyn can defeat Dallas with strong defensive efforts.
The Bulls face the Houston Rockets in a one-game road tilt on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Central. Both the Bulls and Rockets are unsteady. However, Chicago can beat Houston by slowing the game down, matching Houston’s aggression, and controlling the game’s tempo. Houston can defeat Chicago by capitalizing on Chicago’s three-point shooting.
