Zach LaVine buries 11 three-pointers as Bulls top 76ers

Zach LaVine hit 11 of 13 shots from three-point territory and scored 41 points to lift the Chicago Bulls past the host Philadelphia 76ers, 126-112, on Friday, January 6 (Saturday, January 7, Manila time).

It was the third time that LaVine made at least 10 treys in a game in his career.

Nikola Vucevic added 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists and Patrick Williams contributed 18 points. DeMar DeRozan also had 12 for the Bulls, who shot 20-of-34 overall on three-pointers.

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 26 points and Tobias Harris had 22 points and 11 rebounds. James Harden shot just 4-of-17 but added 17 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds.

Montrezl Harrell scored 17 points and Georges Niang had 12, but the Sixers had their 11-game home winning streak snapped.

The Sixers played without Joel Embiid for a second straight game because of left foot soreness.

The Bulls rallied from an early 13-point deficit and took a 59-55 advantage at halftime thanks in large part to 14 points and 12 rebounds from Vucevic. Maxey led the Sixers with 13 on 5-of-8 shooting.

Harris drove to the basket and hit a short runner in the lane for a 48-41 Sixers lead with 4:56 left in the second quarter. Vucevic responded with a three-point play on Chicago’s next possession.

When DeRozan completed a three-point play with 2:51 remaining, the game was tied at 50.

Vucevic and LaVine dropped in back-to-back triples, Williams threw down a dunk and the Bulls went ahead 77-69 with 6:37 left in the third.

The Bulls extended the edge to 18, but Niang’s buzzer-beating trey reduced the deficit to 99-84 at the end of the third.

Harden continued to struggle with his shooting, missing 12 of 14 attempts through three quarters.

Philadelphia tightened defensively closed within 104-94 when Niang hit a three-pointer with 9:28 to go.

The Sixers cut the deficit to eight, 110-102, on a trey from Harris. DeRozan knocked down a difficult jumper on the Bulls’ next possession.

LaVine’s 10th trey put the Bulls ahead 121-108 with 1:53 remaining. – Rappler.com