WASHINGTON — Zach Lavigne scored 35 or more points for the third time in four games as DeMar DeRozan missed the season opener. This included his game-tying 3-pointer, a difficult 30.1 seconds left on an inbounds play with 1 second left on the shot clock.
But after Kyle Kuzma pushed the short-handed Washington Wizards up with his own difficult 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds left, LaVine didn’t try another 3-pointer, but instead took a 16-foot jumper with 2.3 seconds left. I realized that I had to explain the decision of
“We were just trying to get three points. And I think Deron Wright fouled me when I went to the pull-up. My instinct is to go up and try to get a three-point play.” I did,” Lavigne said. “I was about to pull up when he fouled me. I shot it. They didn’t call it. And you’re right.”
Replays show Wright appearing to lead off official Rodney Mott, and his apparent uncalled foul was on the floor rather than in Lavigne’s shooting motion. LaVine had a foul to give before going into penalties. LaVine pointed both Wright and Mott after Wright’s and Mott’s shots were no-called and the buzzer rang, signaling a 100-97 win for the Wizards. I inserted.
Lavigne then said Wright told him he fouled him and Mott told him he missed the call. That’s when Mott was asked if he didn’t see the foul or if he made the wrong call, Lavigne said he didn’t know.
“Rodney said he missed it. That’s why,” Lavigne said. “I could pull deep from 3. But when I stepped in there and[Light]tried to grab me, I just tried to throw the ball up.
“I went to pull up 3 and when he went to grab me, I took that hop step and tried to get in touch.
“They were intentionally trying to foul. (Wright) looked at me and said yes. I don’t want to be in a position.”
In fact, LaVine and chicago bulls Coach Billy Donovan pointed to multiple injuries, especially in the third quarter when the Wizards outscored the Bulls 41-21. Specifically why the Bulls lost to a team without Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Daniel Gafford.
Overall, the Wizards scored 19 points in turnovers and 15 in second chances, enjoying a 21-9 advantage from the free-throw line.
“I think when we have them, we have to put them away,” Lavigne said. You’ve done a good job, obviously give them credit for making shots and playing, but they’ve lost a lot of players and we’ve lost one. you should be able to finish the game.
“We let them hang around for a long time. .
The Bulls definitely weren’t. LaVine committed a costly turnover with 1 minute and 45 seconds remaining, throwing the ball over the scorers’ table after Coby White made the cut, and LaVine passed the ball to where White was.
In the third quarter, the Bulls failed to rotate defensively on some poor possessions, committed three straight turnovers on empty possessions, and made a home-run pass from Anthony Gill to Wright with 0.6 seconds remaining after a LaVine free throw. Allowed for layup. .
Such negligence eventually bit them.
“Obviously the game fell on the last shot. ‘s 59-46 halftime lead. “You can’t expect the last blow every time to win.”
Donovan is as cool as they describe the loss. However, he became more and more animated as he spoke about this in his post-match press conference.
“What happened in that third quarter is not the standard of play that will lead you to victory,” Donovan said.
Perhaps making things worse, Donovan said he told the team before the game not to disrespect the short-handed Wizards, as the rest of the players would be very aggressive. He noted that the players stepped up during the halftime session and reminded everyone to build a 13-point lead in the first five minutes of the second half.
Instead, the Bulls played poorly.
“I feel it’s my responsibility to shed light on our contradictions, expose them, and try to collectively rectify them all of us. That’s the mindset we have to have.” said Donovan. “I think it’s something we have to develop.
“Let’s finish the third quarter so we can call the first timeout. Let’s just stop by. Don’t foul. Don’t get hurt. Don’t beat yourself up.” What beats them: flipping the ball, giving up second-chance points, bad possession on offense, and fouling.
“We have to be able to get through those things. It’s been incredibly close the last two times we’ve played and I don’t think as a team we can afford to see who’s in and who’s out.
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