(670 The Score) Bulls star DeMar DeRozan continued his heater Wednesday evening, and he now stands alone with an NBA record.
DeRozan scored 38 points on 16-of-27 shooting to lead the first-place Bulls to a 125-118 win against the Kings at the United Center. It marked the seventh straight game in which DeRozan has scored 35 or more points while shooting 50% or better from the field, which set an NBA record. Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain accomplished the feat in six straight games in both the 1960-'61 and 1962-'63 seasons, but no player has done it in as many consecutive games as DeRozan.
"Just to be in the record books alone with staples in basketball history is, (I'm) speechless," DeRozan said. "As a kid, as a fan of the history of the game, being in the league as long as I've been in the league, things like that continue to make me even more humble. Being an NBA player, to be able to have this privilege to be able to play this long and have these opportunities, it's something I never take for granted. The crazy thing is I felt like I missed eight easy shots that I normally would've made. I felt like I had a bad shooting night, honestly. That's the crazy thing."
DeRozan's comment reflects how locked in he is. During his past seven games, DeRozan is averaging 38.6 points while shooting 60.7% from the field. DeRozan has also scored 30 or more points in eight straight games, the longest streak by a Bulls player since Michael Jordan did so in January 1996, the Associated Press reported.
"I can't, I'm going to be honest with you, I can't," DeRozan responded when asked how he'd describe the run he's on. "I can't describe it. It's one of those things, I'm completely locked in as soon as I come to work, understanding I want to be able to leave work with a win by any means necessary. I stand on that, and I try to challenge myself every single day I come to work, no matter how I feel, no matter if I'm having a personal good day or bad day. When I come to work, the only thing that matters when I'm at work is getting a victory."
DeRozan's otherworldly play has been well-timed, as the Bulls are shorthanded, including star guard Zach LaVine missing the past three games with left knee soreness. Led by DeRozan, the Bulls (38-21) are riding a five-game winning streak and sit in first place in the East as the All-Star break has arrived for them.
"I try to challenge myself every single day I come to work, no matter how I feel, no matter if I'm having a personal good day or bad day," DeRozan said. "When I come to work, the only thing that matters when I'm at work is getting a victory."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
