Rampaging Chicago Bulls come back from 19-POINT deficit to eliminate the Raptors and win dramatic NBA play-in game 109-105 as Zach LaVine racks up 30 points in the second half alone
- The Bulls faced deficits of up to 19 points in the second half before coming back
- Chicago now travels to Miami to take on the Heat in the last Play-In game
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Even a 12 point deficit with 10:24 left in the fourth quarter couldn’t hold back the Chicago Bulls – as they upset the Toronto Raptors in Canada by a score of 109-105 to advance to the final stage of the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Led by a monster 30-point second half by Zach LaVine, the Bulls were able to come back from third and fourth quarter deficits that were as large as 19 points to clinch a game against the Miami Heat to be the eight seed in the NBA Playoffs.
After LaVine knocked down two free throws to make it a 107-104 game, the Raptors got the ball back with 17.9 seconds remaining.
Pascal Siakam was fouled from behind the arc, but only hit one of three free throws. Nikola Vucevic got the rebound and hit two foul shots of his own.
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LaVine finished the night with 39 points, seven rebounds, and three assists to put Chicago over the top. Demar DeRozan, making a playoff return to Toronto, put up 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists to help.
Led by an amazing second half from Zach LaVine (8), the Bulls came back to beat Toronto
LaVine racked up 30 points in just the second half, finishing with 39 points and seven boards
Meanwhile for Toronto, big games from Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet put them ahead and kept them in it down to the end. Siakam managed 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists while VanVleet put up 26 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
Chicago will now travel to Miami for a one-off game. The winner will enter the Eastern Conference Playoffs as the eight-seed and will face the Milwaukee Bucks.
Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, who trailed 66-47 in the third quarter but took the lead by making four of seven attempts from 3-point range in the fourth. Chicago shot 3 for 19 from distance through the first three quarters.
Toronto’s season ended in disappointment as the Raptors went a dismal 18 for 36 at the free throw line – with DeRozan’s daughter, Diar, screaming when they shot. Toronto missed six attempts from the line in the fourth quarter.
Scottie Barnes had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, and O.G. Anunoby scored 13 points.
Chicago´s Alex Caruso connected from the corner to tie the score at 91-all with 7:08 left in the fourth quarter and Patrick Beverley´s 3 with 5:07 remaining gave the Bulls a 96-93 lead. It was Beverley´s first basket of the game.
VanVleet’s 3 with 3:11 to go knotted it again at 100-all, but LaVine and DeRozan replied with baskets for the Bulls.
Alongside LaVine, DeMar DeRozan put up 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists
Pascal Siakam (43) led the way for the now-eliminated Raptors with 32 points & nine rebounds
Barnes and Siakam each made one of two at the line inside the final two minutes, and VanVleet missed a 3 that would have tied the game.
Siakam’s driving dunk with 19 seconds left cut it to 105-104. After a timeout, LaVine pushed the lead to three with a pair of free throws. Caruso fouled Siakam on a 3 but the Raptors star missed his second and third attempts.
The Raptors led 28-23 after one and VanVleet connected on a half-court heave at the halftime buzzer as Toronto extended its lead to 58-47.
VanVleet’s 3 with 9:09 left in the third gave Toronto a 19-point edge, but the Bulls shaved the gap and trailed 81-72 heading to the fourth.
