Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors: Postgame Grades and Analysis
Despite trailing for much of the game, the Chicago Bulls beat the Toronto Raptors 116-103 on Wednesday night in Toronto.
The Raptors were without Kyle Lowry (back) while Derrick Rose remained sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery.
Toronto began the game hot, but peaked with a 13-point lead. The Bulls eventually found their offensive groove, slowly slashing the deficit before pulling ahead with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Led by rookie Nikola Mirotic down the stretch, the team never relented as they pulled out the crucial victory over the Raptors, who sit just 1.5 games behind them in the Eastern Conference standings.
| Jimmy Butler | A |
| Pau Gasol | B- |
| Joakim Noah | C+ |
| Nikola Mirotic | B |
| Rest of Team | A- |
| DeMar DeRozan | B |
| Jonas Valanciunas | C+ |
| Terrence Ross | B |
| Greivis Vasquez | A- |
| Rest of Team | C+ |
Chicago Bulls
Jimmy Butler: A
When the Bulls' offense stalled in the second half, it was Jimmy Butler who kept the team in striking distance, scoring 10 points in the third quarter. With Rose still absent, Butler emerged as the team's go-to scorer, posting 23 on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting performance.
He shot the ball well from mid-range and found success attacking the rim, which led to his 7-of-9 output from the free-throw line.
While his teammates were ultimately responsible for the fourth-quarter scoring that put Chicago ahead, Butler can be credited with giving his team the opportunity to mount the comeback.
Pau Gasol: B-
Gasol finished with 18, scoring 10 of his points in the first quarter. He struggled initially with his shot, then found his groove in the middle quarters only to see his production fall off in the final period.
He finished with a 7-of-17 clip and grabbed just four rebounds on the night.
Ultimately, it was the Bulls' backcourt that drove the victory, though Gasol's scoring contribution was necessary to keep Chicago within reach during Toronto's hot start.
Joakim Noah: C+
Joakim Noah isn't an elite scorer, but his balanced two-way outputs have made him an integral contributor for the Bulls.
Wednesday night, he posted just nine points but still enjoyed a solid overall performance. Hitting all four of his shots, dishing out five assists and grabbing five rebounds—a relatively low number due to his presence in the high post—Noah was effective even if his play wasn't crucial to the team's success.
Nikola Mirotic: B
Mirotic entered Wednesday having notched at least 25 points in four of the Bulls' last five contests. However, he struggled to score from deep from the start and fell short of the benchmark, posting just 15 points off the bench.
While his performance through the first three quarters was forgettable, Mirotic came alive down the stretch and played a primary role in Chicago's comeback, finishing with a team-high plus-24.
He was responsible for the layup that gave the Bulls their first lead since the opening minute. He also chased down a loose ball that effectively turned the tide in Chicago's favor. He also hit his first three of the night—the Bulls' ultimate dagger—with two minutes remaining after missing his first three attempts.
Overall, the rookie didn't enjoy the level of success he had become accustomed to this month, but he was a necessary piece in the team's victory.
Rest of Team: A-
Down the stretch, the trio of Tony Snell, Aaron Brooks and Kirk Hinrich all played crucial roles as the Bulls mounted their comeback.
Snell notched 17 points, coming alive in the final period's opening half as the Bulls closed in on Toronto's lead. Right behind him was Kirk Hinrich, who scored seven points on 60 percent shooting.
Both bench players played just over 17 minutes.
Brooks struggled at the beginning, but was responsible for two big threes in the fourth quarter. He finished with 16 points and five assists.
Toronto Raptors
DeMar DeRozan: B
DeMar DeRozan entered the night averaging 24.2 points in March. Ultimately finishing with 20 points, he made a well-rounded offensive impact.
However, with Lowry sidelined, the team badly needed DeRozan to pitch in a superstar effort down the stretch. He wasn't able to, though, and Toronto collapsed in the fourth quarter.
DeRozan pitched in a team-high five assists, controlling the ball often with Greivis Vasquez excelling as a catch-and-shoot perimeter option.
However, despite a solid performance, more was needed from him in the closing minutes to guarantee a Raptors win.
Jonas Valanciunas: C
Jonas Valanciunas' scoring impact was limited, though he matched up well in the paint with Pau Gasol, who struggled early on before finding his groove in the second half.
Valanciunas played an integral role in the Raptors' rebounding effort, totaling 12 boards. He also managed a handful of strong defensive sequences, despite not establishing himself as an anchor for the game's entirety.
Overall, it was a quiet game for Valanciunas on both ends, with the majority of the action coming from the teams' backcourt players.
Terrence Ross: B
Terrence Ross was the hero of the Raptors' strong first period, scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Out of the gate, he shot the ball well from mid-range and created opportunities by slashing to the rim.
Later on, his contribution fell off. Ross finished with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and his inability to maintain a steady level of production was indicative of Toronto's eventual collapse.
Greivis Vasquez: A-
Starting in place of Lowry, Vasquez quickly found his three-point stroke, finishing the night 6-of-11 from three-point land. His six made threes tied a career-high, as he posted 14 points in the first half and 22 in the entire game.
He continued to hit big shots down the stretch, but struggled to contain Aaron Brooks in the latter half of the fourth quarter.
Still, it was an impressive night for Vasquez, who had entered Wednesday in a minor shooting slump.
Rest of Team: C+
James Johnson had a pair of big plays in the first half, but the bulk of the Raptors' bench points were scored by Lou Williams, who finished with 18 on 8-of-13 shooting. However, even his hot hand couldn't quiet the Bulls' stellar fourth-quarter effort.
The rest of the second unit combined for just 11 points, while Amir Johnson managed just eight as the team's fifth starter.
Up Next
Both Chicago and Toronto have easier contests coming up.
The Raptors, whose post-All-Star campaign has seen its ups and downs, will have the opportunity to find consistency and another potential win on Friday, when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers entered Wednesday night having lost 10 of their last 12 games, and with the end of the regular season quickly approaching, L.A. is in contention for a top draft pick.
The Bulls will face the league-worst New York Knicks in Chicago on Saturday. The Knicks, who Toronto beat by 17 last Sunday, have won just two games in March as of Wednesday—a seven-point victory over the Lakers and a surprise overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs.
They'll enter Saturday's contest having played the night before, while the Bulls will have ample rest in addition to home-court advantage.
