Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic return from injuries in Bulls' victory
After missing the past 17 games due to inflammation in his right foot, Zach LaVine scored 15 points in his first game back.
CHICAGO — Coby White had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the Chicago Bulls welcomed back Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic with a 104-91 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
DeMar DeRozan contributed 17 points for Chicago, which had been on a losing streak with three out of four games lost. Andre Drummond secured 10 rebounds, marking his sixth game in a row with double-figure boards.
In his first game since Nov. 28, LaVine played nearly 30 minutes and scored 15 points. Vucevic, playing as a reserve, clocked in 25 minutes, scoring 11 points and securing seven rebounds.
LaVine sat out 17 games due to inflammation in his right foot, while Vucevic was absent from the last five games because of a strained left adductor.
LaVine and Vucevic made a return, however, Alex Caruso was a last-minute omission from the Chicago team due to a sore neck.
Bridges contributed 28 points to the Hornets’ score, concluding a 1-5 road trip. Terry Rozier added 15 points with 5-for-17 shooting, while Cody Martin rounded up the score with 13 points.
Chicago took the lead when they started the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run. Ayo Dosunmu contributed with a 3-pointer and another basket, while DeRozan completed a three-point play, increasing the score to 90-73 with 7:41 remaining.
At the end of the first half, LaVine asserted his presence. He executed a breakaway dunk and then followed it with a 3-pointer, giving the Bulls a 47-41 lead at halftime.
White was the leading scorer for the Bulls with 11 points, while LaVine contributed nine points in the first 15 minutes. On the Hornets’ side, Bridges was the top scorer with 17 points, shooting 7 out of 11.
