Bulls fans have something to celebrate as Nikola Vucevic delivers clutch heroics once again.
The Bulls were cruising with a comfortable 98-82 lead against the Trail Blazers heading into the fourth quarter on Wednesday. Then everything fell apart.
Chicago watched their 16-point advantage evaporate as Portland stormed back to take the lead late in the game.
With time running out, Coby White drilled a huge three-pointer to cut Portland’s lead to just one. The Bulls quickly fouled, sending Jerami Grant to the line where he made only one of two free throws.
Down by two, White drove to the basket before kicking the ball out to Vucevic on the wing. The veteran big man didn’t hesitate.
Swish. Game over.
For the second time this month, Vucevic nailed a game-winning three-pointer, giving Chicago a thrilling 122-121 victory.
“Ice in his veins” doesn’t begin to describe Vucevic’s clutch performance lately.
The win improves Chicago’s record to 8-6, good enough for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. It’s a welcome change after the team hit a rough patch, going just 2-5 in their previous seven games following a hot 6-1 start.
At 35 years old, Vucevic is playing some of the best basketball of his career. He’s shooting an incredible 42.9% from three-point range this season – easily the best mark of his 15-year NBA journey. His career average from downtown is just 35.1%.
The veteran center finished Wednesday’s game with a team-high 27 points, including a scorching 5-for-9 from beyond the arc.
This wasn’t Vucevic’s first moment of late-game magic this month. On November 4 against Philadelphia, he hit another game-winning three to cap off an amazing comeback. The Bulls had trailed by as many as 24 points in that game before Vucevic’s shot gave them a 113-111 lead with just seconds remaining.
His clutch shooting extends beyond just game-winners too. Against Denver on Monday, Vucevic knocked down a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to help secure a 130-127 win that snapped a five-game losing streak.
After weathering their recent struggles, the Bulls are now looking to build momentum with consecutive victories. And with Vucevic’s hot hand from downtown, they’ve got a secret weapon for those nail-biting finishes.
