Bulls beat Hawks, line up rematch with Heat in play-in

Coby White captivated the crowd with his electrifying crossovers and spins towards the basket, setting the tone early and earning chants from the fans as the game neared its conclusion. It was indeed a night to remember. White exploded for a career-high 42 points, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 131-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament on Wednesday. This victory set up a crucial matchup against the Miami Heat on Friday, with the winner securing the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed and a first-round bout against the top-seeded Boston Celtics.

Previously, White's highest scoring game was 37 points. However, in this breakthrough season, he outdid himself with a spectacular performance that proved pivotal.

Atlanta's Dejounte Murray put up a strong effort with 30 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bulls or to break the Hawks' losing streak, which extended to six games following the regular season's end.

The Bulls also saw significant contributions from Nikola Vucevic, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan, who added 22 points and 9 assists. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 19 points after returning from a bruised right quadricep that sidelined him for the last four regular-season games.


Yet, the night belonged to White. He was unstoppable, driving hard to the basket, shooting an impressive 15 of 21 from the field, and adding 9 rebounds and 6 assists to his stat line. The Bulls collectively shot 56.8% from the field.

For Atlanta, Trae Young and Clint Capela each scored 22 points. Young, back from a 23-game absence due to a torn ligament in his left pinkie, also handed out 10 assists but turned the ball over six times. Capela dominated the boards with 17 rebounds, and Bogdan Bogdanovic chipped in 21 points.

A pivotal moment came late in the third quarter when Vucevic's 3-pointer ignited a 17-2 run for the Bulls. White dazzled the crowd with a spin around Young and an assist for a Javonte Green dunk, followed by his own layup after a block by Dalen Terry. This extended the Bulls' lead significantly.

The Bulls had initially surged ahead with a 16-2 run at the end of the first quarter, highlighted by Terry's dunk off an Alex Caruso steal. Despite a brief comeback by the Hawks, the Bulls maintained control, widening the gap and ultimately cruising through the fourth quarter.

The game's outcome seemed inevitable as White's dominant performance left the Hawks struggling to keep pace. Looking ahead, if White can replicate this display against Miami, the Bulls could very well secure their spot in the postseason. The status of Alex Caruso, who left the game with a left ankle injury, remains uncertain as the team prepares for their next crucial encounter.

Source Bleacher Report : Bulls' Coby White, DeMar DeRozan Applauded by NBA Fans for Play-In Game Win vs. Hawks
Source TheScore : Bulls oust Hawks to set up play-in rematch vs. Heat