Jamal CollierESPN4 Minute Read
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls showcased resilience and determination in their second game of the season after an extraordinary players-only meeting. They overcame a 17-point deficit in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter to secure a thrilling 104-103 overtime victory against the Toronto Raptors.
The game reached its climax when Bulls guard Alex Caruso blocked a layup attempt from Raptors forward Pascal Siakam and subsequently drained the game-winning 3-pointer. Caruso’s heroic plays were met with celebration from his teammates as the buzzer marked the end of the game.
Caruso commented, “It was a mixture of relief and excitement. Firstly, it signaled the end of the game, and we have another one ahead tomorrow, so I was exhausted. Secondly, we demonstrated glimpses of our desired style of play. Unity, support, and playing with intensity are principles that define my basketball identity and our team’s objectives.”
The Bulls openly expressed their frustrations following a disappointing 20-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their season opener. They even requested Coach Billy Donovan’s permission for a private discussion in the locker room. After their practice session on Thursday, forward DeMar DeRozan guaranteed a stronger performance against the Raptors. He fulfilled his promise by leading the team with 33 points, including 18 points in the pivotal fourth quarter.
DeRozan stated, “Our focus was on how we could bounce back and respond. I had faith in my teammates that we would compete at a higher level. Although we faced some difficulties during the game, we never surrendered. We persevered until the end, giving ourselves an opportunity to win. It’s moments like this that we need to build upon.”
Historical data from play-by-play statistics since 1996-97 revealed that teams had only managed to win five times out of 10,575 contests when trailing by 17 or more points in the last five minutes of regulation. The Sacramento Kings were the last team to achieve such a comeback on January 27, 2020, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to ESPN Analytics, the Raptors had a staggering 99.8% chance of securing victory with under five minutes remaining.
Coach Donovan commended the Bulls’ determination, stating, “I deeply appreciate their resilience and tenacity. Despite the emotional roller coaster, the team remained focused and determined to fight, even in moments of adversity.”
The Bulls’ remarkable comeback was characterized by significant momentum swings. After initially falling behind 16-6, Chicago went on two scoring runs, 20-0 and 16-0, in the first half. However, the Raptors responded with a 23-0 run bridging the second and third quarters, marking their longest scoring spree in the past 20 seasons.
Generating offense proved difficult for the Bulls for the majority of the game, particularly with guard Zach LaVine struggling with back tightness. LaVine, who shot 3-of-14 for eight points, expressed uncertainty about his availability for Saturday’s game against the Detroit Pistons.
Nevertheless, DeRozan assumed control in the fourth quarter and overtime to orchestrate the Bulls’ comeback.
DeRozan emphasized his mindset in critical moments, saying, “Win by any means—this is my mentality every fourth quarter. What happened in the previous three quarters doesn’t matter; when it’s the fourth quarter, it’s go-time.”
DeRozan contributed 22 points during the fourth quarter and overtime, although he missed several opportunities to secure victory in regulation. A career 84% free-throw shooter, he inexplicably missed three crucial free throws that could have tied the game in the final 15 seconds of the fourth quarter, becoming the first player since 1997-98 to do so in a single game.
Yet, Caruso consistently kept the game alive. With just 12.1 seconds remaining and the Bulls trailing by three, Caruso stole the ball from Scottie Barnes and passed it to DeRozan, who drew a foul while attempting a layup. Despite missing a free throw that would have leveled the score, DeRozan was granted another opportunity after Caruso secured an offensive rebound. Unfortunately, he missed the subsequent layup attempt.
In the final seconds of regulation, Caruso displayed remarkable defensive skills by drawing a charge from Siakam to force a turnover. As a result, DeRozan was given another chance to win the game from the free-throw line. He converted only one of two attempts, leading to overtime.
During overtime, Caruso’s exceptional performance concluded with a crucial block and a game-sealing 3-pointer.
DeRozan expressed his appreciation, saying with a smile, “He bailed me out. He bailed us out. It’s astonishing to witness. It’s like releasing a cheetah from its cage and watching it run wild. And he makes it look effortless.”
Information from ESPN Stats & Information was used in this report.
