Coby White shone brightly with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, propelling the Chicago Bulls to a 104-91 win over Miles Bridges and the Charlotte Hornets during Friday’s NBA action.
This victory marked a positive turn for the Bulls, who had been struggling, losing three out of their last four games. DeMar DeRozan contributed 17 points, and Andre Drummond continued his impressive rebounding streak, securing double-digit boards for the sixth game in a row.
Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic made their anticipated returns to the court. LaVine, who had been out since November 28 due to foot inflammation, played nearly 30 minutes and scored 15 points. Vucevic, sidelined for five games with a strained adductor, played as a reserve and recorded 11 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes.
LaVine, reflecting on his return, acknowledged the need to regain his stamina but expressed satisfaction with his performance. Bridges led the Hornets with 28 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Bulls. Terry Rozier and Cody Martin scored 15 and 13 points, respectively, for Charlotte, which concluded a challenging 1-5 road trip.
“Physically, all good, you just have to catch your wind … but I felt good. I’m going to get my wind over the next couple of games,” LaVine said. “I think I did good. Missed a couple of open shots that I thought I should make, but other than that, I tried to go out there and play as hard as I could.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets Updates
The Bulls faced their absences, with Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams missing the game due to injuries. Vucevic hinted at a possible return to the starting lineup without minute restrictions in the next game against the Hornets.
LaVine’s impact was especially notable at the end of the first half, where he scored a dunk and a 3-pointer, giving the Bulls a six-point lead. Hornets coach Steve Clifford pointed to their poor transition defense as a key issue.
“It was a challenging trip, but actually the guys did well,” Clifford said. “I thought we played a little tired tonight but we hung in there.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Chicago solidified their lead with a strong fourth-quarter performance, including a pivotal 16-4 run featuring Ayo Dosunmu and DeRozan contributions.
After a standout performance in the previous game, Rozier struggled initially but scored 11 points in the third quarter. The Hornets, plagued by injuries, saw the return of rookie Brandon Miller, but key players like LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward remained sidelined. PJ Washington also exited the game with an ankle injury.
Looking ahead, the Hornets and Bulls are set to face off again in Charlotte on Monday night.
