NBA

LaVine 'feels like me again' after combined 77 points in back-to-back

By Sports Desk January 08, 2023 784

Chicago Bulls' All-Star guard Zach LaVine says he "feels like me again" after scoring a combined 77 points in back-to-back games capped by his side's 126-118 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

LaVine starred with 41 points including 11 three-pointers in Friday's 126-112 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, following that up with 36 on 12-of-21 shooting against the Jazz.

That marks the best form that the 27-year-old has achieved this season after undergoing arthroscopic left knee surgery in the offseason.

"First couple of back to backs, I played and didn't feel great," LaVine told reporters.

"[Now] I feel great. Legs feel healthy. Felt springy at the beginning of the game. It's good to feel like me again."

On Friday, LaVine hit 11 of his 13 three-point attempts (84.6 per cent), joining Stephen Curry as the only players in NBA history to hit at least 11 three-pointers in a game at over 80 per cent efficiency.

LaVine shot another six-of-12 from beyond the arc against the Jazz, including three in a row to push the Bulls' lead to eight.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan encouraged LaVine to take on more three-point attempts.

"For us to generate more threes, he can be a big part of that," Donovan said.

"Then he's got to find a balance between shooting those threes and obviously getting downhill and either getting to the basket or passing and creating offense for others."

Chicago's win over the Jazz made it three in a row, along with eight victories from their past 11 games, during which they have the fourth best offensive rating in the NBA.

"It always helps when your best players are playing well and you're focused on the other end," LaVine said.

"We're playing well. We're making big plays. I'm not saying we're playing perfect, but we're competing.

"We're coming to each game with a certain type of energy and confidence and we need to keep taking it game by game. We're not trying to look ahead and get ahead of ourselves."

Last modified on Sunday, 08 January 2023 11:04
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