Zach LaVine said repeatedly: He doesn’t care if he doesn’t score, as long as the Bulls win.
Sunday offered the proof.
On a day when he sank just one field goal, LaVine still impacted the Bulls’ 117-101 victory over the Mavericks in Dallas, posting his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 assists and even contributing three steals. .
“He didn’t force anything, he really played the right way,” said coach Billy Donovan.
LaVine, who entered the game, was fourth in the NBA with a score of 28.3 points per game, missed seven of the eight shots and all five attempts at 3 points. His production reached the best personal streak of four consecutive games of 30 points.
However, his strong and versatile game and an offensive performance in which several players contributed left him in a playful mood afterwards. It was in stark contrast to his state of dismay following the collapse of the Bulls on Friday night in Oklahoma City.
When the Bulls and Mavericks played at the United Center on January 3, LaVine hit Dallas’s defense with 21 points in the first quarter – on the way to 39 for the game – in another victory. Given the aggressiveness with which the Mavericks started trying to arrest LaVine in that game, Donovan imagined that LaVine could be the center of defensive attention at first.
LaVine’s eight shots marked his low this season, and by far. His previous one was 13.
“He took down the hill, he found his companions, “said Donovan.” If Zach can continue to evolve like that, it will only help our team and make us better. “
The Bulls placed six players in double digits and made their third game with 30 or more assists this season. This more than made up for LaVine’s quiet night, not to mention that Coby White missed all five attempts and failed to score.
“Thad (Young) mentioned this to the guys after the game. He said, ‘Coby and Zach, you didn’t score, but you played the game the right way, which really helped us win,’ “said Donovan.” Listen, these guys are players that demand a lot of attention. So, it opens things up for other people. And when they can play like that, it will only help us. “