CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Andre Drummond set season-highs with 21 points and 15 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls handed San Antonio its ninth straight loss, beating the Spurs, 128-104, on Monday night.
Zach LaVine scored 20 points and DeMar DeRozan had 19, helping the Bulls match a season high with their third straight win. They also got some payback for a loss at San Antonio in October.
It was tied at 85 late in the third quarter when Chicago went on a 23-3 run that buried the team with the second-worst record in the Western Conference. Two more losses and the Spurs will match their worst skid of the season.
DeRozan started the decisive run with a three-point play and step-back jumper in the final minute of the third, giving the Bulls a five-point lead.
Drummond continued to make a case for a bigger role. The two-time All-Star played 21 minutes in his second double-double in three games, after being used in a limited role. He scored 10 points in Chicago’s big run, delighting the crowd with back-to-back dunks.
The Bulls had seven players score in double figures and shot 56.2% despite making just 6 of 22 3-pointers. It was their fourth win in five games overall.
Keldon Johnson led San Antonio with 21 points. But the Spurs opened a season-high, nine-game trip on an all-too-familiar note.
Coby White hit two free throws and fed Drummond for dunk off a steal in the opening minute of the fourth to bump the lead to 94-85. Doug McDermott hit a 3 for San Antonio, but the Bulls continued to pull away.
TIP-INS
Spurs: San Antonio had won four of five against Chicago ... F Jeremy Sochan (sore lower back) and G Tre Jones (sore left foot) missed their second consecutive game.
Bulls: The Bulls' 39 first-quarter points were one shy of their season high ... G Alex Caruso (sore left foot) missed his second straight game. Chicago's best perimeter defender, he was injured in Thursday's 114-98 victory over Charlotte. “He's shown some significant strides in a very positive direction,” coach Billy Donovan said.
UP NEXT
Spurs: visit Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Bulls: visit Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press.
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