DEMAR DeRozan started the New Year the way he ended the previous one – with a game-winning three-point conversion for the Chicago Bulls.
The veteran forward converted a three-pointer as the Bulls completed its fight back with a 120-119 beating of Washington Wizards on New Year’s Day at the Capital One Arena in Washington.
DeRozan finished the match with 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists as the Bulls notched the solo first place in the Eastern Conference with 24-10 win-loss slate.
On New Year’s Eve, DeRozan also connected a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer as the Bulls scored a come-from-behind 108-106 win over Indiana Pacers.
Trailing 102-92 against Washington, the Bulls slowly carved its way back in the match behind DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic to tie the score at 112-all.
A three-pointer by LaVine followed by two free throws by DeRozan gave the Bulls a 117-116 edge but the Wizards notched the lead for the last time at 119-117 on a Kyle Kuzma triple.
LaVine led the Chicago offense with 35 points, with seven three-point baskets. Vucevic had double-double 22 points and 12 rebounds, as Coby White chipped in 20 markers.
Kuzma finished with double-double 29 points and 12 rebounds, while Bradley Beal chipped in 27 points and 15 assists as the Wizards dropped to 18-18 slate.
Saddiq Bey, for his part, scored a game-winning three-pointer as the Detroit Pistons started 2022 with a 117-116 overtime upset against San Antonio Spurs.
Down 116-114 after a split free throw by Spurs’ Derrick White, Bey notched the lead for the Pistons with a left corner triple from a pass by Derrick Walton Jr. with 2.1 seconds left. /PN
