With 2.3 seconds remaining in overtime, Alex Caruso made the game-winning baseline three-pointer, and DeMar DeRozan finished with 33 points to lead all scorers as the home Chicago Bulls defeated the Toronto Raptors 104-103 on Friday.
The Raptors lost their sixth straight game at United Center as Caruso (13 points, 13 rebounds) and Nikola Vucevic (11 points, 12 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles for Chicago.
The Raptors were led by Pascal Siakam’s 18 points and Scottie Barnes’ 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. In double figures, Gary Trent Jr. (16 points), O.G. Anunoby (11), Dennis Schroder (10), and Chris Boucher (10). Schroder provided ten more assists.
With 4:58 remaining in regulation, Chicago was down 17 points, but they produced a 22-5 surge to force OT. In the final seconds, the Bulls had numerous opportunities to grab the lead but were unable to make key free throws.
DeRozan finished the fourth quarter with eighteen points.
At the conclusion of overtime, with Toronto leading by two, Caruso’s blocked shot set him up for the game-winning basket, which Zach LaVine assisted him with.
For Chicago, Coby White finished with 17 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds.
The Raptors shot 47 percent from the field, while Chicago shot 37.4 percent. Chicago trailed by as many as 19 points at one point in the game and struggled to score during many prolonged offensive droughts.
Toronto jumped out to a six-point lead in the third quarter after scoring the opening 13 points. With 1:17 remaining in the fourth, Chicago’s Torrey Craig hit a three to tie the game at 63, but the Raptors maintained control until the end.
Halfway through the first quarter, the Raptors jumped out to a 16-4 lead. After that, Chicago came back strongly, scoring 20 points in a row, and Anunoby finished with a slam at the first-quarter buzzer.
The Bulls had a 19-point lead in the second quarter thanks to a 16-0 run, but the Raptors answered with a similar run. Toronto went on a 12-0 run to end the first half, giving the Bulls a 42-35 advantage at the break.
In the first half, the Raptors were called for five offensive fouls by the referees.