Coby White scored 31 of his 35 points after the half as the Chicago Bulls defeated the host Sacramento Kings 128-116 on Thursday night in the NBA, overcoming a 19-point deficit.
White made 13 of 14 free throws, Kevin Huerter scored 25 points, including 5 of 9 3-pointers, and he also had seven assists and four steals. Nikola Vucevic finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists, and he made 4 of 5 3-pointers.
Trey Lyles scored 22 points, including four 3-pointers, DeMar DeRozan ended with 22, and Malik Monk had a season-high 34 points, including five 3-pointers, for Sacramento.
DeRozan became the sixth active player and the 27th in NBA history to achieve 25,000 career points with 1:56 left in the third quarter after making his signature mid-range jumper.
Key Takeaways
Bulls: Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis missed the game due to a sprained right ankle, which allowed Chicago to take advantage. Huerter put on a solid offensive display for the Bulls, going 10-for-16 with a score that was just one point behind his season high. Since December 8, it was his greatest point total.
Kings: Sacramento’s lackluster defensive performance against the Bulls came after their unexpected victory against East-leading Cleveland on Wednesday. Chicago was able to shoot 52.3% from the field thanks to the Kings.
Crucial moment: With 8:15 left, Huerter made a spectacular layup to put the Bulls up for good.
Important statistic: The Bulls had a 42.9% 3-point shooting percentage (15 for 35).
Next up: The Bulls’ next game is on Saturday night when they travel to play the Lakers. On Saturday night, the Kings will host the Milwaukee Bucks.
