Nikola Vucevic nets 35, hits late layup as Bulls edge Jazz
Nikola Vucevic scored a season-high 35 points, including the go-ahead layup with four seconds left, and Jalen Smith notched a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double to boost the host Chicago Bulls over the Utah Jazz 128-126 on Wednesday.
Chicago overcame a career-best 43 points off the bench from Utah's Brice Sensabaugh, who made 15 of 22 shots from the field. Keyonte George followed with 25 points, including a personal 8-0 run late in regulation that helped the Jazz erase a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Tre Jones assisted on Vucevic's winning shot, winging a pass from the right wing off his back foot following an Isaac Okoro offensive rebound.
The Bulls collected 36 assists on 47 made field goals while producing seven scorers in double figures. Ayo Dosunmu had 15 points while Patrick Williams (13), Okoro (12), Dalen Terry (11) and Kevin Huerter (10) followed.
Kyle Filipowski scored 19 points for the Jazz and Ace Bailey added 10. Sensabaugh and George both sank five 3-pointers.
In a game that featured 17 ties and 26 lead changes, the teams were knotted at 94-all after three quarters. Huerter punctuated an 8-0 Chicago run with a 3-pointer with 8:32 remaining. Sensabaugh drew a foul and hit a pair of free throws on the next trip down the floor but the Bulls responded to seemingly take control before Utah's late charge.
Playing without leading scorer Lauri Markkanen (illness), the Jazz picked up much of the slack behind a spectacular showing from Sensabaugh.
A reserve forward who entered the night as Utah's fifth-leading scorer at 10.1 points per game, Sensabaugh shined from the start, scoring 28 first-half points on 10-for-13 shooting. He set the tone with a 21-point first quarter, tallying the most points by any bench player in any quarter in nearly 30 years.
Chicago neutralized Sensabaugh's big effort by earning a superlative of its own. The Bulls went 61.4% from the floor in the first half, with Vucevic (15 points) leading a balanced effort before the break.
The Bulls led 71-62 at halftime, creating distance with a late run in the second quarter that featured treys from Dosunmu, Coby White and Williams.
Cody Williams and Filipowski both had seven boards for Utah. Jones had a game-best eight assists.