(670 The Score) Bulls star DeMar DeRozan on Tuesday didn't receive an honor that many thought was coming his way.
76ers center Joel Embiid was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December, the league announced. DeRozan was among the other nominees who finished behind Embiid. DeRozan averaged 29.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 51.5% overall, 62.5% on 3-pointers and 85.1% on free throws in 35.9 minutes across eight games in December. The Bulls went 8-0 with DeRozan in their lineup in December. He missed three contests during the month as he was in the NBA's health and safety protocols.
Embiid averaged 29.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.5 steals while shooting 49.6% overall, 39.1% on 3-pointers and 84.5% on free throws in 34.5 minutes across 13 games in December. The 76ers went 8-5 with Embiid in the lineup and 8-6 overall in the month.
Bulls star guard Zach LaVine expressed anger upon learning Tuesday afternoon that DeRozan didn't win the honor.
Included in DeRozan's superb month was a masterful 38-point outing in a win against the Lakers on Dec. 19 in his first game out of protocols and also a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bulls a victory against the Pacers last Friday.
DeRozan followed up his buzzer-beater against the Pacers with another game-winning 3-pointer at the horn Saturday on New Year's Day to give the Bulls a dramatic 120-119 win against the Wizards. With the heroics, he became the first player in NBA history to hit game-winning buzzer-beaters on back-to-back days, according to Basketball Reference.
DeRozan is averaging 26.9 points for the season, a figure that ranks fifth in the NBA. The Bulls are on an eight-game winning streak and sit in first place in the East at 25-10.
DeRozan was attempting to become the fifth player in Bulls history to win a Player of the Month honor. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler have done so previously.
The Bulls host the Wizards on Friday evening in their next game. The game can be heard on 670 The Score, with pregame coverage set for 6:45 p.m.
