CHICAGO (670 The Score) – In his best all-around game of the season, Bulls guard Zach LaVine picked the timeliest of moments to come up with a couple big baskets in overtime.
With the Bulls on the ropes after blowing a late eight-point lead in regulation and then trailing by five in overtime, LaVine had an old-fashioned 3-point play and a go-ahead 3-pointer to give Chicago a lead back that it wouldn't relinquish in a 124-119 win against Houston at the United Center.
What the Bulls liked most was that LaVine looked like his explosive, aggressive self in his third game back from a right foot injury that caused him to miss 17 games. He had 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting in 41 minutes of action, and he was 5-of-6 on free-throw attempts and 4-of-8 on 3-point attempts.
"Aggressive, decisive, making the right play off his aggressiveness, not necessarily looking to pass every time," said Bulls guard Coby White, who had a game-high 30 points and also hit a dagger 3-pointer in overtime. "But just getting downhill saying, 'I'm going to get to the cup and then make the read.' When he's aggressive first, that's how we want him to be."
LaVine's go-ahead 3-pointer came on a pull-up from the left wing with 1:46 left and gave the Bulls a 120-119 lead one possession after he sliced through the Rockets defense for a tough layup and a foul. Those buckets were much-needed because, prior to them, the Bulls' offense had grounded to a halt with just one field goal in a stretch of 7 minutes, 5 seconds of game time.
Until LaVine stepped up, the game looked to be slipping away for Chicago.
"Big-time players make big-time plays," White said. "He was just making the right plays. He was aggressive. Like I said, that's what we want him to do.
"He's aggressive. That's how we want him to play."
Beyond his scoring, LaVine had 13 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block. Notably, given that the Bulls have implored LaVine to move the ball more quickly to assimilate into the style they established while he was out, LaVine didn't force the action individually.
LaVine's teammates, including White, had been urging him recently to shoot more. LaVine had just nine points on 2-of-8 shooting in the Bulls' win against the Hornets in overtime Monday.
"Sometimes when I'm over-passing, he's saying, 'Zach, be yourself, shoot the ball,'" LaVine said of White. "I just tell him I've got to work my way in. I've missed the last (17) games, bro. I'll pick it up. Obviously, he knows how I can get going offensively, and he knows who I am on this end of the floor. I think I'm going at the right pace right now."
Save for a few turnovers, LaVine played the type of game the Bulls had envisioned.
"The way he was playing, in terms of the decisiveness, was really good," Donovan said.
"He played an all-around great game."
The Bulls improved to 18-21 with the victory and have now won three straight. They'll host the Warriors on Friday at the United Center.
"We're competing," LaVine said. "We're trying to obviously overcome some bumps and hurdles and guys getting their rhythm back. I think everybody is competing and sharing the ball."
Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
