(Chicago) Playing a second major game in two nights on the road, the Toronto Raptors were unable to repeat their exploit from the day before and lost 113-99 to the Bulls in Chicago on Monday.
Posted yesterday at 10:29 p.m.
Fred VanVleet shone on his return to the game with 19 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
Pascal Siakam was once again productive on offense with 22 points.
Quebecer Chris Boucher also did well with a double of 19 points and 10 rebounds on the second unit.
DeMar DeRozan haunted his former team by scoring 26 points for the Bulls. His teammate Zach LaVine also had 26 points.
The Raptors were lucky to come within half a game of the Bulls for fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, but they clearly lacked energy late in the game. The tanks seemed empty after the huge victory snatched from the 76ers of Philadelphia on Sunday at the count of 93-88.
The formation of head coach Nick Nurse still benefited from the return to play of its point guard VanVleet. We can say that the star player was ready for the start of the game, scoring three of his first five baskets in addition to getting assists on the other two.
This all-important duel lived up to expectations as both teams fought back, trading the lead multiple times during the first half. At halftime, however, it was the Raptors who returned to the locker room with a one-point lead at 55-54.
A situation attributable among other things to the brilliance of Boucher under the basket and Siakam who already had 16 points.
In the second half, the two teams resumed the battle with just as much ardor. Late in the third quarter, the Bulls took advantage of a 15-0 streak to afford a cushion of 13 points.
The legs of the Torontonians then seemed increasingly heavy and the Bulls were never worried again.
The Raptors suffered their first loss in seven road games. For the Bulls, it is a first victory in four games.
There is still another game of crucial importance for the Canadian squad on Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs currently occupy the sixth rank highly coveted by the Raptors since it allows direct access to the playoffs.