DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and hit the game-winning free throws with nine seconds remaining in the Chicago Bulls’ 119-117 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.
Things got wild in the waning moments after Collin Sexton helped Utah pull within one point with two free throws with 10 seconds left. A fracas occurred in front of the Bulls bench, resulting in multiple technical fouls after Bulls assistant Chris Fleming and the Jazz’s John Collins exchanged shoves.
Chicago bench player Torrey Craig was also called for a tech, all of which resulted in a one Jordan Clarkson free throw that tied the score at 117-117 with 9.3 to go.
DeRozan, who was fouled before the altercation, drained both free throws for a two-point lead. Utah had two chances, but Clarkson and Sexton missed 3-point attempts in the final seconds.
Coby White finished with 25 points and Nikola Vucevic totaled 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Bulls improved to 2-0 on their four-game Western trip.
Collins led Utah with 25 points and 13 rebounds and added two blocks. Sexton chipped in 24 points and seven assists. Rookie Brice Sensabaugh, making his first start in place of injured Lauri Markkanen, had career highs with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The Jazz, who rallied after trailing by 12 points in the fourth quarter, lost for the ninth time in 11 outings.
White helped lift Chicago to a 63-54 halftime lead with five of the Bulls’ 13 first-half 3-pointers.
White and Alex Caruso drained back-to-back 3s to help Chicago take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Utah pulled within two at 101-99 with 7:32 left after Omer Yurtseven hit a jumper, capping a 16-8 surge to open the quarter.
DeRozan answered with a couple of layups and Vucevic made a tip-in as the Bulls regained an eight-point edge.
Down 111-104, the Jazz roared back with seven straight on a Sexton 3-pointer, a Sensabaugh pull-up jumper and a Clarkson dunk to tie it 111-111 with 2:30 remaining.
Sexton then put Utah ahead 114-112 with a 3-pointer on the Jazz’s next possession.
DeRozan continued the back-and-forth affair with five straight Bulls points for a 117-114 lead.
–Field Level Media
