Lonzo Ball’s improved 3-point shooting is no secret. He put the work in and it pays off.
He has come a long way from afar.
“Now is day and night,” he said.
Ball made seven of Chicago’s 15 3-pointers and Zach LaVine scored 23 points, leading the Bulls to a 117-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Ball went 7 for 10 from depth and ended with 21 points. In his first year with the Bulls, he overshoots 44.7% and continues his steady 30.5% rise from 3 during his 2017-18 rookie season with the Lakers.
“He deserves a lot of credit,” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. “He put an incredible amount of work into reaching this level.”
Five players scored double digits for Chicago’s second straight win. Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan finished with 17 points.
Dallas had won three times in a row and four out of five, but couldn’t keep up with LaVine and Chicago in the second half. Kristaps Porzingis had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, and Luka Doncic finished with 20 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
“I should take better shots,” said Doncic, who came off the field 6-18. “I know I always say this, but honestly, I have to do it, not just say it. I have to get better.”
Dallas was seven back in the third quarter before Doncic wrapped the ball around his back and then tossed Dwight Powell for a jam over Vucevic with 3:29 to go. The piece drew an “ooohhh” from the 20,910 viewers at the United Center, but the rest of the time was owned by Chicago.
Alex Caruso converted a three-point game and gave the Bulls a 95-80 lead after three with a jumper. The reserve guard finished with 16 points in 6-on-7 shooting.
“I just tried to be aggressive when I had the ball and the shots went in,” said Caruso.
Chicago was never seriously threatened in game four, and LaVine underscored the win when he got an overhead pass from Ball and finished a 360-degree dunk with 1:50 remaining.
“The Bulls are back, man. That’s all I can say,” said Tim Hardaway Jr., who scored 21 points for Dallas.
Doncic’s free throw gave the Mavericks a 51-48 lead, 4:46 minutes back in the second quarter, but the Bulls finished the first half with a 13-3 run. LaVine opened the sprint with a 3-pointer and a dunk.
“They started running just before half-time, two minutes before the end, and we just couldn’t recover from that,” said Dallas coach Jason Kidd.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: F Maxi Kleber (left sloping trunk) missed his fifth game in a row. Kidd said Kleber was doing better. “I don’t think we have reached the seven- or ten-day mark yet,” said Kidd. “But when we get there, I think I can give you a better update.”
Bulls: G Coby White (left shoulder surgery out of season) trained with the team’s G League daughter on Tuesday. Donovan said White will have another workout on Thursday. “If things move forward we hope he’ll be available to play at some point on this west coast swing,” said Donovan. The Bulls open a five-game trip to the Golden State on Friday night. … F Patrick Williams (left wrist) won’t be traveling with the team on his upcoming road trip, Donovan said.
NEXT
Mavericks: At the San Antonio Spurs on Friday for their third meeting this season. The Mavericks won the first two, winning 104-99 on October 28 and 109-108 last week.
Bulls: On Friday night in the Golden State. The Bulls lost eight in a row to the Warriors.
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