The NBA introduced Tuesday that Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis will take part within the slam-dunk contest throughout All-Star Weekend on Feb. 14-16 in San Francisco.
On the identical evening, Buzelis introduced he has arrived.
Constructing on his current improve in minutes, Buzelis turned in a breakout recreation towards the Warmth, ending with a career-high 24 factors on 10-for-10 capturing (4-for-4 from three-point vary) within the Bulls’ 133-124 victory.
It wasn’t precisely what a tanking staff wanted, however contemplating the Bulls (22-29) had an opportunity to look at their 20-year-old ahead play a season-high 31 minutes, they weren’t precisely going to face in the best way of progress.
And so far as calling it a breakout recreation, the always-confident Buzelis wasn’t into labels.
‘‘I’ve actually at all times had that,’’ Buzelis stated of a few of the drives he made on the rim. ‘‘It’s nearly displaying it now. I’ve at all times had the point-guard strikes.
‘‘My confidence proper now could be excessive, however you’ve acquired to remain humble. My dad at all times tells me the solar comes up tomorrow, so that you’ve acquired to return to work. You guys can name it [a breakout game], it doesn’t matter to me. Breakout, I’m going to play the identical means each evening.’’
What was additionally spectacular was that it was Buzelis who stored the Bulls within the recreation till they might strike. And strike they did, outscoring the Warmth 39-21 within the fourth quarter, led by 12 factors from guard Josh Giddey. The Bulls additionally didn’t have a turnover within the quarter.
Giddey completed with 24 factors, and guard Coby White chipped in 22.
Been there, completed that
Coach Billy Donovan in contrast going by means of a rebuild with the Bulls to his days when he was teaching Florida to back-to-back NCAA championships.
‘‘I do know it’s a very completely different scenario, however from a training perspective, it’s very, very related,’’ Donovan stated. ‘‘You already know when you have got Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, I believe it was the primary time within the historical past of the NBA that three gamers from one staff went within the high 10 [of the draft]. And when these guys depart — rebuild, retool, no matter phrase you need to use — you’re beginning over. In school, that’s what I handled on a regular basis.’’
