CHICAGO (670 The Score) – It didn’t take long for Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball to endear himself to the United Center crowd.
In his first home game with Chicago and second with the organization, Ball recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to help lead the Bulls to a 128-112 win against the Pelicans on Friday evening. The Bulls improved to 2-0 with the victory.
“My game translates into filling up the stat sheet, and tonight I think I did that,” said Ball, who shot 6-of-11 from the field and didn’t have a turnover.
Ball also added three steals and a block and left his teammates raving about how he made a difference in every facet of the game.
“He’s everywhere,” star guard Zach LaVine said. “Him and (Alex Caruso) are everywhere. He hits his open threes. He pushes in transition. He brings a real energy and physicality to the defensive end. He’s an all-around player, man.”
Reserved in front of the media, Ball didn’t admit to having any extra motivation in facing New Orleans, his former team that shipped him to Chicago in a sign-and-trade this past offseason. He then responded “not really” when asked if recording a triple-double meant anything to him, but the assist that sealed it certainly was a moment that left him and many going wild. Ball set up guard Alex Caruso for an alley-oop dunk with a left-handed scoop pass in transition for his 10th assist with 3:53 left, sending Bulls fans into a frenzy.
The play was symbolic of how the Bulls breezed past the Pelicans. The Bulls recorded 24 points in transition, shooting an efficient 10-of-13 in such situations. Ball is the engine who drives the Bulls’ transition game with his ability to push the pace and his preternatural passing, and to hear coach Billy Donovan explain it, perhaps no area of the game is more important for Chicago to find success this season.
“We played faster,” Donovan said in comparing the Bulls’ performance Friday to their season-opening 94-88 win against the Pistons on Wednesday.
“When we play faster, it helps us, because we have handlers and passers. The faster we play – not that we want to be out of control, one pass, shot – but we have really, really, really good passing guys on our team and very unselfish guys. You could see on the break tonight – the ball just kind of pops on the break. But we got to work to get out there and do that, to get in those situations.
“We have to run. Because if we don’t run, we’re not going to be in a position … to share the ball.”
For his part, Ball also brushed off a question about whether he was perplexed the Pelicans let him go in the offseason, saying, “I’m where I want to be, and I’m happy to be here.” The feeling is mutual, with the Bulls thrilled to have him.
“It’s going to get better with time,” Ball said. “We have to build the chemistry still. Obviously, this is still a brand-new team. We’re only two games into the year, but I think today was better than how we were in Detroit, so that’s a positive thing.”
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.