The Bulls may be the ninth-place team in the East. But in crunch time, they’re elite.
DEMARVELOUS!!!!!!!@NBCSChicago | @DeMar_DeRozan pic.twitter.com/xwxKnPiiNI
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 14, 2024
DeMar DeRozan sent Wednesday’s Bulls-Pacers game to overtime with a buzzer-beating jumper, then added nine of his 46 points in overtime as Chicago defeated Indiana, 132-129.
DeMar DeRozan cashes from deep for 45 PTS in OT!
— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2024
Bulls lead late in overtime
Bulls-Pacers | Live on the NBA App
https://t.co/mxVCd7EzPz pic.twitter.com/PnZL1t434z
The 34-year-old guard has scored more points in clutch situations than anyone in the NBA, passing Stephen Curry after tonight's performance. He's a 34 percent three-point shooter overall and a 54 percent three-point shooter in the clutch. DeRozan makes more than half his shots in clutch situations, and he proved Wednesday that he can even miss perfectly when he has to.
DeRozan went to the line down three in the final seconds, making the first free throw and missing the second intentionally. Indiana’s Obi Toppin tipped the rebound out of bounds, setting up DeRozan’s clutch shot.
Teammate Coby White has also been excellent in the clutch this year, but he left the game with a hip injury. So it was up to DeRozan, and he came through once again.
After the game, DeRozan explained to reporters why he's so effective in big moments.
DeMar DeRozan describing how he does what he does. What a game. pic.twitter.com/hLx5qg1W1d
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) March 14, 2024
"It's like a survival mode that kicks in, but in a fun way," DeRozan said. "For me, I just thrive off those moments. I'm not scared to fail...It always reminds me of my childhood. Being a kid, doing a fake countdown, jumping on the bed, fake shooting a shot. As a competitor, those moments, I try to relish them."
Bulls fans are relishing them, too. The Bulls might be a mediocre club, getting outscored on the season overall. But if a game is close, they've got the best clutch player in the NBA.
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