NBA: 14.

The Golden State Warriors (37-9) also celebrated their 14th birthday. Won the away game in a row. In the Chicago Bulls (17-28) the champion had some problems, but the Big Three team around Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson always had the right answer and ensured a 119-112 win.

The game began with a shock. Robin Lopez took Jordan Bell with a furious darkness on the poster. The rookie, who started for the injured Draymond Green (shoulder), fell unhappy, bent over and had to be driven out of the hall in a wheelchair. The Dubs immediately examined Bell and explained during the game that the rookie had only sprained his ankle.

After that, the Warriors took command. The Bulls seemed to be overtaxed and the champion scores at will. However, the Dubs became sloppy and Chicago ended the quarter with a 12-0 run, giving the hosts the lead (40-38). Nikola Mirotic’s appearance came. First he blocked Kevin Durant away at the ring, then he welded the threesome in. The Bills were on the upswing and gained a double-digit lead. Only when Steve Kerr sent the starters back to the field could Golden State work his way up a bit.

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After the break, the Splash Brothers took over again. Klay Thompson netted three triples at once and Curry also stayed hot from outside. A threesome after three flew around the bulls’ ears in this phase. The Big Three from Curry, KD and Klay made the first 28 Warriors counters and a 19-point lead was the result. Now history was repeating itself. KD and Curry sat and watched Mirotic and Bobby Portis give Chicago a little momentum again. But Thompson answered with five quick points.

The Warriors were a little sloppy in the middle of the final quarter and suffered a few minor ball losses. Kris Dunn took advantage of this and the deficit was only 5 points (107:112) three minutes before the end. But he was injured when his face crashed hard on the floor. As a result, however, Thompson and Durant were the ones who cleared up the last doubts with two jumpers.

Top scorer of the Warriors was Thompson with 38 points (12/22 FG, 7/13 threesomes), who also got a lot of support from Curry (30,6/11 threesomes, 9 rebounds) and Durant (19,7 assists). Otherwise, no guest player scored more than 6 points. The Bulls, on the other hand, had six players who scored double-digit points. Mirotic (24.9/13 FG) led his colours, with Lopez and Dunn scoring 16 points each.

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Klay Thompson. It was another one of those nights Klay felt he couldn’t miss. His personal 9-0 run with three converted distance throws at the beginning of the second half set the course for the Warriors win. Even when the Bulls tried again at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Thompson nipped the momentum in the bud with a crazy threesome from the corner without balance and finally closed the bag with a jumper. 38 points were also a Season High for one of the best shooters in NBA history.

Zach LaVine. He is not yet at his old level, as we can clearly see today. Apart from a nice dark in transition LaVine didn’t bring. 2/12 from the field is of course terrible. But his defence was especially problematic. He lost sight of Thompson too often or got stuck on screens. In the decisive phase, his services were no longer in demand.

Due to the early injury of Bell and the losses of Green and Andre Iguodala (Wade) Kevon Looney got a lot of time on the fourth – and did his job very well, even though he was hardly a factor offensive. The Bulls, on the other hand, deliberately looked for other weak points in the Warriors lineup. Especially Zaza Pachulia and Nick Young were attacked on every occasion. The hosts were also successful. Young in particular was incredibly complacent and was an absolute minus player. If he had to defend a big, this always meant two points for the opponent or a foul for Young.