Bulls make defense irrelevant with big fourth quarter
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu gave a brief description of what he had to do to exit concussion protocol and play in Friday's game against Minnesota.
The process involved some memory tests, a rigorous workout on Thursday, then another one on Friday morning.
"Today I had to wake up at 8:30, come to the gym, had to work out again, pass another test," he said. "I had to lift weights, do some more conditioning, just make sure my heart rate was good.
"So it was a lot. During the game, I felt better than it was trying to get to play the game."
Dosunmu went out and played 42 minutes against Minnesota, collected 10 assists and helped lead a fourth-quarter explosion that lifted the Bulls to a 134-122 victory.
The Bulls (35-21) missed their first two shots of the fourth quarter, then made 18 of 21 during the rest of the game and outscored the Timberwolves 42-31 down the stretch.
DeMar DeRozan led the way with 35 points, while center Nikola Vucevic piled up 26 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, and Javonte Green matched a career-high 23 points, while taking a nasty fall late in the game.
One missing ingredient that resurfaced Friday was one of those white-hot shooting sprees from Coby White. From the final minute of the third quarter - when Minnesota took a brief 5-point lead - through the remainder of the contest, he hit 6 of 7 shots from 3-point range and finished with 22 points.
White has been in and out of the starting lineup, was the subject of some trade speculation, but he said after the game his goal is to let none of that bother him.
"I'm a laid-back guy, go with the flow," White said. "I don't really get caught up in all that. I won't stress. All that internet stuff, I don't pay attention to that. I just focus on how can I help the team.
"As long as I'm playing minutes and able to contribute, I don't really care what role it is. I'll figure it out as I go along. That's just who I am."
This was a night when Zach LaVine didn't seem to be at full strength. He's been trying to pay through back spasms and a sore knee, and finished with 12 points against the Timberwolves.
"I think tonight was just an example of how many guys we have that are capable of doing things at a high level," Dosunmu said. "Now it's all about gelling together and putting that together."
Minnesota seemed motivated and even drew a few vocal fans to the UC, which is rare. Former No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Edwards looked like he had something to prove and scored 31 points, while veteran guard Patrick Beverley usually brings the juice even when he's not in his hometown.
The Bulls are trying to get on a roll heading into the all-star break with four home games against teams with lesser records. They'll face Oklahoma City on Saturday, capping a grueling stretch of seven games in 10 days.
Coach Billy Donovan wasn't sure if LaVine would take the night off. Green's health is also a concern after taking a nasty fall late in the game. He lost his balance after finishing a dunk with momentum and basically face-planted on the floor, the same type of maneuver that sidelined Kris Dunn for about six weeks during the 2017-18 season.
Green got back on his feet fairly quickly and kept playing, then went to the bench while a trainer checked out his right knee.
"He's always on top of somebody, landing on somebody, on the ground," Donovan said of Green. "That's just kind of the way he is. He plays all out, he gives you everything he has, he's aggressive, he's in a constant attack mode.
"I love that about him. I think he's OK. I did not hear anything different."
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