Bulls use strong third quarter to get past Hornets

DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 29 points, Nikola Vucevic recorded a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls rode third quarter runs to their third consecutive win with a 111-100 defeat of the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

Chicago built a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter before Charlotte cut the deficit to four points at halftime. However, the Bulls opened the second half on a 19-4 run.

The Hornets went 2:30 without scoring a point before going on a 12-2 rally. The Bulls answered with a 17-6 run that extended into the fourth quarter, swelling their lead to as many as 22 points.

The runs gave Chicago enough cushion to hold Charlotte at bay through the final period. The Bulls' defense held the Hornets to just 39-of-90 (43.3%) shooting from the floor overall and 10-of-37 (27%) from beyond the 3-point arc.

Chicago went only 38-of-90 (42.2%) from the floor, but a 12-of-25 (48%) performance shooting from long range helped make the difference for the Bulls. Coby White led the way, hitting 3-of-7 from 3-point distance en route to 19 points.

White also grabbed nine rebounds and dished five assists. Vucevic went 2-of-3 behind the 3-point line, and Ayo Dosunmu and Torrey Craig each made two 3-pointers coming off the bench.

Dosunmu finished with eight points, and Craig added six. Alex Caruso scored 12 points, hauled in six rebounds and blocked two shots.

The win extended Chicago's first winning streak of the season and closed out a 3-for-3 homestand before the Bulls play five of their next six on the road.

Gordon Hayward led Charlotte with 27 points. Terry Rozier added 25 points in the losing effort despite shooting just 1-of-11 from 3-point range.

Miles Bridges finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, Brandon Miller notched 12 points, and Nick Richards grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.

—Field Level Media