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PARIS — Joakim Noah sat courtside in a gorgeous multicolored full-length robe and floppy hat. When French star Tony Parker was introduced, he got a big round of applause, as did Magic Johnson.
The sold-out French crowd at the Accor Arena responded with glee every time the highlight reel was played. Some of them were created by Chicago Bulls flying reserve forward Derrick Jones Jr.
But the spectacle and circumstances of the NBA’s second regular season game in the city couldn’t hide the fact that the Bulls needed to win the basketball game. And they did just that with DeMar DeRozan returning after missing his three games with a right quad strain.
DeRozan scored 26 points with nine rebounds and five assists, Zach Lavigne added a game-high 30 points, and Nikola Vucevic recorded his 10th straight double-double, helping the Bulls win. With Victor Wenbanyama in mind, he defeated a rebuilding Detroit Pistons team. In the final of 126-108. By the way, his teenage sensation Wenbanyama from France, who will receive his No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, was also sitting courtside.
The Bulls improved to 21-24 with the win and remained in the play-in picture. Winning against underdogs in the league hasn’t been forsaken this season for the Bulls. While having some high-profile victories against the league’s elite, they’ve battled multiple teams with losing records.
However, the team appeared to be revitalized by the trip, with team bonding activities and the odd schedule break of playing just one game a week.
Having the “Big Three” of DeRozan, LaVine and Vucevic playing well at the same time, which is happening more consistently, would obviously help. It wouldn’t hurt to be one of seven teams with double-digit numbers. This is the scoring balance coach Billy Donovan has been looking for all season.
In many ways, this season is the exact opposite of last season. When the Bulls competed for the best league record before injury and adversity struck, they struggled all the way to an elite team and were easily eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Alex Caruso thinks this season could be different.
“I think we’re a really good team,” Caruso said. And I think the coaching staff did a good job putting us in a position to be able to do that I think it’s more down to the players. In professional sports, if you win the game, it all goes away. Winning solves everything. After all, you have to show up.And do your job.
The Bulls did so Thursday.
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