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A rare mid-week game for the Windy City Bulls, with the visiting Birmingham Squadron in town. Coincidentally, the Squadron NBA parent club, the New Orleans Pelicans were in town last night to play the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls still missing key contributors such as Ryan Arcidiacono and Javon Freeman-Liberty out due to injuries. The team has rallied around their bench guys with all the injuries to the regulars. Squadron have been struggling on the year, so a very winnable game for the Bulls.
Bulls off to a solid start in the first. Hitting the three ball, with the key guys E.J. Liddell and Marcus Domask part of the early game scoring. They are turning over the ball, with the pesky Squadron defenders jumping the passing lanes.
Interestingly Elfrid Payton, in the lineup for the Squadron. Payton had a really nice recent showing for the Pelicans, surprisingly they didn’t keep him around and released him. No NBA team picked him up, and now he’s on the Pelicans G League squad. I’d imagine he gets called up to the big show soon, with his impressive recent showing and NBA experience.
Bulls enter the second quarter with a lead. Liddell continues his hot first half with a couple early buckets.
Chicago native and Kentucky standout Antonio Reeves is also in the lineup tonight for the Squadron. Reeves in his rookie year for the Pelicans, gets some playing time on the baby club. He’s a promising player who had a stellar career at Kentucky, will a certain NBA future.
Meanwhile, Liddell continues to score for the Bulls. Midway through the second he’s got 14 points. Familiarly, the Bulls are extending the lead with a hot second quarter. They are doing a lot well, driving to the basket, drawing contact and making the extra pass.
A bad foul by the Squadron on Alex Schumacher with 0.2 seconds left in the half. Schumacher converts the free-throws and the Bulls take a 20 point lead to the half, 61-41.
Impressive first half showing for the Bulls, lead by Liddell. Birmingham, making a bit of a run in the third. Liddell and company managing on maintaining a comfortable lead, but will history repeat itself? This isn’t the first Bulls rodeo, where they lead going into the fourth and end up squandering the lead and game.
After three quarters, Bulls lead 94-78. Bulls will have to keep leaning on Liddel, who has been terrific on the night and as of late, to close out this one.
Early four point play (fouled on a made three) and a couple turnovers by the Bulls and the Squadron is back in the game. From there it was Muoka time! David Muoka getting fed inside and separating from the Squadron.
It was all Bulls on this night. In arguably their best team performance of the season. A definitive 129-109, 20 point victory. Liddell was the leading scorer on the night with 31. Good win for the Bulls, who are starting to string together some wins.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
This one is easy, E.J. Liddell, who had a big game against his former team. Liddell set the tone from the start and was consistent throughout the night. Whenever the Bulls needed a bucket, he was the man to get them. Liddell has become the go-to-guy and arguably the best player on the team.
UP NEXT:
Saturday night, the Bulls will welcome the the Westchester Knicks. A familiar face returns to town with the Knicks, Boo Buie. The former Northwestern standout should get a nice welcome being back in town. This will be the first meeting between the Bulls and Knicks this season. The Knicks will stay in town for a follow-up rematch on MLK Day.
