Despite falling behind by 19 points in the third quarter, LaVine & Co. took advantage of Toronto’s 18-for-36 performance at the free throw line . and got a little help along the way from DeMar DeRozan’s 9-year-old daughter. Now it’s off to Miami to face the Heat on Friday, with a playoff berth on the line.
As this line is being read, there’s a good chance that a Toronto Raptors player has missed another free throw.
This line? Clank! Likely another one.
And Zach LaVine took advantage of every single one of them.
Thanks to the Raptors removing the “free” from free throw line by shooting an improbable 18-of-36 from the stripe, as well as LaVine having one of his most meaningful performances by scoring 39 points, the Bulls advanced to the second-round play-in game, heading to Miami on Friday with the 109-105 win.
All that’s at stake is another win-or-go-home showdown, but this time with a very familiar face in former Bull Jimmy Butler awaiting them. The winner of the now No. 10 vs. No. 7 game wins the No. 8 spot, and the right to take on top-seeded Milwaukee in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Some prize.
Considering where the Bulls were at halftime at the Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, they’ll take it.
“I’ll let you all decide that,’’ LaVine said, when asked if he felt like this was his first memorable big-game Bulls performance.
