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.
Chicago, which had suffered losses in three out of four games, received a 17-point contribution from DeMar DeRozan. Andre Drummond continued his streak by securing 10 rebounds for the sixth game in a row.
In his first game since Nov. 28, LaVine scored 15 points and played for nearly 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Vucevic, who also played as a reserve, managed to score 11 points and secured seven rebounds in 25 minutes.
LaVine missed 17 games due to inflammation in his right foot, while Vucevic was out for the previous five games because of a strained left adductor.
While LaVine and Vucevic made their return, Alex Caruso was a last-minute withdrawal for Chicago due to a sore neck.
Bridges racked up 28 points for the Hornets, bringing an end to a 1-5 road trip. Terry Rozier contributed 15 points, with a 5-for-17 shooting record, while Cody Martin added 13 points.
Chicago gained a significant lead after initiating the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run. Ayo Dosunmu scored a 3-pointer and quickly added another basket, while DeRozan successfully completed a three-point play, increasing the score to 90-73 with 7:41 remaining.
LaVine asserted his dominance towards the end of the first half. He executed a breakaway dunk and subsequently a 3-pointer, leading the Bulls to a 47-41 advantage at halftime.
White topped the Bulls’ scoreboard with 11 points, while LaVine contributed nine points within the first 15 minutes. On the Hornets’ side, Bridges was the leading scorer with 17 points, having made 7 out of 11 shots.
