DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso play heroes in OT win – NBC Sports Chicago

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The Chicago Bulls evened their record at 1-1 with a thrilling 104-103 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at the United Center.

“We faced some challenges, but we never gave up,” said DeMar DeRozan. “We stuck with it, fought until the end, and gave ourselves a chance to win. And that’s exactly what we did.”

Here are 10 key takeaways from the game:

1. DeRozan and Alex Caruso emerged as the heroes of the game. DeRozan scored 18 out of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, while Caruso made crucial defensive plays and sank the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left in overtime.

2. The Bulls struggled offensively, especially in the halfcourt. They had difficulty completing passes and shot poorly, resulting in a low-scoring and ugly game.

3. DeRozan singlehandedly brought the Bulls back to life with his clutch performance. Despite missing a crucial free throw that could have tied the game, DeRozan remained aggressive and determined in the fourth quarter.

4. The Raptors had a strong start to the second half, going on an 11-0 run. The Bulls’ slow starts in both halves raise questions about the effectiveness of their starting lineup.

5. Zach LaVine had another tough night, struggling with his shooting and wearing a wrap on his lower back. His performance will be crucial for the Bulls’ success in the upcoming games.

6. Patrick Williams had a limited playing time due to a slow start. Torrey Craig stepped up in his absence, contributing to the Bulls’ offensive rebounds and second-chance points.

7. Nikola Vucevic had a mixed performance, providing the Bulls with rebounds but struggling with his shooting. The Bulls made an effort to utilize Vucevic’s strengths, especially when matched up against Jakob Poeltl.

8. The Bulls had a rough start to the game, missing shots and committing turnovers. However, they turned things around with a dominant 20-0 run in the first quarter.

9. DeRozan’s guarantee of a better effort from the Bulls came true, as they showed improved defense and effort throughout the game. However, turnovers remained an issue for the team.

10. Both coaches successfully won challenges, with Donovan’s second challenge benefiting the Bulls by overturning a call and converting it into a three-point play.

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