So what if you can’t spell “Chicago Bulls basketball” without C-L-U-T-C-H?
The Bulls realize they’ve spent much of the first three weeks of the season crumbling in crunch time.
Chicago enters Sunday’s visit from the Denver Nuggets as the lone team without a victory in a “clutch” situation, what NBA.com calls a five-point margin with five minutes or less to play. The Bulls are 0-6 in such games, with Wednesday’s 115-111 loss to New Orleans the latest setback.
Chicago’s 25 wins in the clutch last season were tied for third most in the league.
To the Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic, one reason behind the team’s early struggles may be opponents keying on leading scorer DeMar DeRozan, as well as load management for fellow All-Star Zach LaVine, who is coming off knee surgery in the offseason.
While Chicago has lost three of four, Denver has won four of five, including the first two contests of a four-game road trip that concludes Sunday.
The Nuggets are coming off Friday’s 131-112 loss in Boston. After trailing by 18 points in the first half, Denver rallied to within 87-85 in the third quarter but faded down the stretch after Nikola Jokic (29 points, eight rebounds) fought foul trouble early in the game.
Boston outscored Denver 34-21 in the fourth.
The Nuggets were without reserve point guard Bones Hyland, who warmed up Friday but was placed in the health and safety protocols before the game.
Chicago swept the season series from Denver last season behind solid play from LaVine, who averaged 34 points in the two games, in addition to supplying consistent rebounding. The Bulls had a 105-88 edge on the boards against the Nuggets last season.
Denver leads the all-time series 55-42.
