Game 35, Home Game 17 Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 - 7:00 PM CT United Center WGN-TV / WLS-AM 890 / Univision Deportes Radio
Game 35, Home Game 17 Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 - 7:00 PM CT United Center WGN-TV / WLS-AM 890 / Univision Deportes Radio
Game 35, Home Game 17 Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 - 7:00 PM CT United Center WGN-TV / WLS-AM 890 / Univision Deportes Radio
2017-18 TRANSACTIONS Traded Jimmy Butler and the No. 16 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft (Justin Patton) to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine
and the No. 7 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft (Lauri Markkanen) (6/22) … Signed Lauri Markkanen (7/5) … Re-signed Cristiano Felίcio (7/6) … Signed Justin Holiday (7/10) … Signed
Antonio Blakeney to a two-way contract (7/14) … Claimed David Nwaba off waivers (7/14) … Signed Ryan Arcidiacono to a two-way contract (8/1) … Acquired Quincy Pondexter, a
2018 second-round pick and cash considerations from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights to Ater Majok and cash considerations (9/1) … Signed Diamond
Stone (9/13) … Signed Jarell Eddie and Jaylen Johnson (9/25) … Re-signed Nikola Mirotić (9/25) … Waived Dwyane Wade (9/25) … Signed Bronson Koenig (9/28) … Waived
Johnson and Koenig (10/13) … Waived Eddie and Stone (10/16) … Claimed Kay Felder off waivers (10/16) … Waived Felder (12/19).
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE: Ryan Arcidiacono: ar-chee-dee-ACK-uh-no, Antonio Blakeney: blake-KNEE, Cristiano Felicio: cree-STEE-YAHN-oh, Jerian Grant: JARE-in,
Zach LaVine: luh-VEEN, Lauri Markkanen: LAU-ree MARK-a-nin, Nikola Mirotić: KNEE-coal-ah MIR-oh-tich, David Nwaba: NWAH-buh.
NEXT FIVE GAMES:
DATE GAME OPPONENT SITE TIME (CT) TV RADIO
12/31 36 @ Washington Capital One Arena 2:30 p.m. NBCSCH WLS-AM 890
01/01 37 PORTLAND United Center 7:00 p.m. WGN-TV WLS-AM 890 / Univision Deportes Radio
01/03 38 TORONTO United Center 7:00 p.m. NBCSCH WLS-AM 890 / Univision Deportes Radio
01/05 39 @ Dallas American Airlines Center 7:30 p.m. NBCSCH WLS-AM 890
01/06 40 @ Indiana Bankers Life Fieldhouse 6:00 p.m. WGN-TV WLS-AM 890
2017-18 RECORD HOME ROAD OT Athletico Injury Update: Zach LaVine (left ACL) and Cameron Payne (right foot) are
OVERALL 12-22 8-8 4-14 0-1 OUT.
EASTERN 11-10 7-3 4-7 ---
WESTERN 1-12 1-5 0-7 0-1
LAURI ON THE MARK Lauri Markkanen is making his presence felt this season among other members of his 2017 Draft class. Here’s how he ranks in
several categories among this season’s rookies (same qualifiers as regular leaders):
Category PPG RPG FG% 3P% FT% MPG
Ranking 4th 2nd 6th 7th 3rd 6th
Average 14.2 7.4 .401 .328 .819 29.5
RAINING THREES The Bulls have made 351 3-pointers through their first 34 games, which is the highest cumulative total through Chicago’s first 34 games
ever, passing the high mark also set by Fred Hoiberg’s team in 2015-16.
Rank Season 3PM through 34 Games
1 2017-18 351
2 2015-16 267
3 2014-15 258
4 2005-06 253
5 1996-97 218
GETTING IT DUNN Second-year player Kris Dunn has made large strides at the start of this season compared to how he started his rookie season. The 5th-
overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft has improved his stats in scoring, shooting, assisting and rebounding:
Through Player’s 30 Games
Season GS PPG FG% 3P% RPG APG
2016-17 5 4.3 .387 .310 2.2 2.4
2017-18 21 13.2 .434 .329 4.6 5.9
AGE AND EXPERIENCE The Bulls have emphasized a new direction for the franchise by creating a roster of young players to develop, along with collecting
future assets. Chicago joins Portland as the only team to enter the season without a player who has reached his 30 th birthday. Here are some other notes
about where the Bulls roster ranked in age compared to the rest of the league at the start of 2017-18:
• The Bulls had the youngest raw average age in the league at 24.50, which narrowly edged Phoenix’s 24.52. League-wide, the average team age is 26.4.
• Ten of Chicago’s 17 roster players had yet to turn 24 years old, which led the league.
• Thirteen of Chicago’s 17 players had yet to turn 26, which also led the league.
WIN SOME, LOSE SOME Here is a breakdown of Chicago’s averages in its wins compared to its losses.
PPG Opp PPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG
IN WINS (12) 108.7 99.8 .465 .378 .732 47.5 24.6 8.00 4.17
IN LOSSES (22) 94.8 109.1 .416 .337 .729 43.5 21.7 6.68 3.27
BACK-TO-BACKS This season, Chicago will play 28 games as part of 14 back-to-back sets.
FIRST GAME PPG (Total pts) FG% (FG-FGA) SECOND GAME PPG (Total pts) FG-FGA
BULLS 4-3 106.0 (742) .457 (294-644) 2-5 96.9 (678) .445 (270-606)
OPPONENTS 3-4 101.9 (713) .433 (266-615) 5-2 107.1 (750) .482 (293-607)
4
OFF-THE-COURT NOTES
The Bulls tipped off the Season of Giving in November, bringing players, coaches, front office staff, and corporate partners into the city to give back for the
holidays. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, the Bulls Community Relations Department will host nearly 40 events and activations by the end of
December across Chicago. During the Season of Giving alone, the Bulls will also donate hundreds of autographed items and memorabilia to community
partners, impacting the lives of roughly 80,000 Chicagoans.
The Season of Giving includes a wide array of events, including both partner-run initiatives like the Thanksgiving Dinner at Pacific Garden Mission with ZTE
and long-time team outings like the Chicago Housing Authority holiday party, which focus on helping deserving people around the city have a memorable
holiday.
CHICAGO BULLS TICKETS ON SALE Tickets for Chicago Bulls 2017-18 home games are on sale now at Bulls.com, 1-800-4NBA-TIX, the United Center
and Ticketmaster. Group tickets are available now by calling the Bulls at 312-455-4000.
KEEPING UP WITH THE BULLS Official Website – Bulls.com … Official Game Day page – Bulls.com/gameday … Facebook –
facebook.com/chicagobulls … Twitter – twitter.com/chicagobulls … Instagram – instagram.com/chicagobulls … Snapchat – chicagobulls … YouTube –
youtube.com/chicagobullsofficial
HEAD COACH FRED HOIBERG
Named the 19th head coach in Bulls history on June 2, 2015 … the fourth Bulls head coach to post a winning record in his inaugural season with
the team (42-40) … the only current head coach in the NBA who played in the league, worked in the front office of an NBA team and was also the
head coach of a Division I program … in the 2017 postseason, Hoiberg became the fifth coach in NBA history to have his first two career playoff
victories on the road (George Lee, Randy Pfund, Jeff Van Gundy, Randy Wittman) … additionally, the Hoiberg-coached squad was the first eight
seed to start 2-0 against a one seed since the 1993 Lakers, and it marked the first time the Bulls won the first two games of a series on the road
since 1993 against the Suns … prior to Chicago, he served as Head Coach at his alma mater, Iowa State … during five seasons at the helm of
the Cyclones, his teams were nationally ranked on a perennial basis, as they posted a record of 115-56 (.673), highlighted by four consecutive
trips to the NCAA Tournament (2012-15) and two Big 12 Conference Tournament Championships (2014, 2015) … he was named Big 12 Co-
Coach of the Year in 2012 … prior to his term with the Cyclones, worked four seasons in the front office of the Timberwolves … as an executive with Minnesota,
served as the team’s VP of Basketball Operations (2009-10) following three seasons as the team’s Ast. GM (2006-09) … in 10 seasons in the NBA, he played for the
Indiana Pacers (1995-99), Chicago Bulls (1999-2003) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (2003-05) … originally selected by Indiana 52nd overall in the 1995 NBA
Draft, Hoiberg played in 541 regular season games, where he posted 5.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 1.6 rpg in 18.4 mpg … he was a member of three playoff teams and
appeared in 24 playoff contests … while with Minnesota in 2004-05, he led the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage (.483) … he had his No. 32 retired by Iowa State
in 1997 … was inducted into the Iowa State Letterwinners’ Hall of Fame in 2005 … in 2008, he was honored as part of the program’s All-Century Team … inducted
into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2016.
PLAYER NOTES
15 RYAN ARCIDIACONO (2-Way) G 6-3 208 3/26/94 VILLANOVA / USA ROOKIE
2017-18 NBA Averages: 1.0 apg, 5.3 mpg, .000 FG%, .000 3FG%
Notes: Dished 1 assist in NBA debut on 10/19 at TOR.
9 ANTONIO BLAKENEY (2-Way) G 6-4 197 10/4/96 LOUISIANNA STATE / USA ROOKIE
2017-18 NBA Averages: 7.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.6 apg, 4.9 mpg, .364 FG%, .286 3PT%, .737 FT%
Notes: Scored 15 points in the first half at LAL (11/21) … posted career-high 16 points at OKC (11/15) … scored 2 points in first career NBA
action at TOR (10/19).
2 JERIAN GRANT G 6-4 205 10/9/92 NOTRE DAME / USA 3RD SEASON
2017-18 Averages: 8.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.9 apg, 0.85 spg, 22.5 mpg, .446 FG%, .341 3FG%, .704 FT%
Notes: Dished out nine assists in back-to-back games vs. NYK (12/9) and BOS (12/11) … scored a career-high 24 points vs. MIA (11/26) …
set a then-career high with 21 points at GSW (11/24) … had season-high 3 steals at TOR (11/7) … collected a career-high-tying 8 rebounds vs.
NOP (11/4) … has led the team in assists in 16 games this season … scored double-digit points for three-straight games from 10/21–10/26,
tying the second-longest streak of his career (4 – 4/6/16 to 4/12/16) … recorded first double-double of the season and second of his career with
13 points and season-high 10 assists at CLE (10/24) … posted 13 points vs. SAS (10/21) and matched that on 11/4 vs. NOP.
44 NIKOLA MIROTIĆ F 6-10 260 2/11/91 REAL MADRID / MONTENEGRO 4TH SEASON
2017-18 Averages: 17.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 25.5 mpg, .504 FG%, .475 3FG%, .675 FT%
Notes: Tallied 24 points and 8 rebounds at MIL (12/26), with 4 3PM … had double-double vs. ORL (12/20) with 15 pts/10 reb … set career-high
streak with 20+ points in four-straight games (12/11-12/18) and at least 3 3PM in five-straight games (12/9-12/18) … recorded first double-
double of season with 22 points and 13 rebounds vs. PHI (12/18) … scored a season-high 29 points and 9 rebounds vs. UTA (12/13) … scored
19 points vs. NYK (12/9), with 5 3PM … suffered concussion and maxillary fractures in incident with teammate Bobby Portis on 10/17 and
returned to play on 12/8 at CHA; scored 6 points with 3 rebounds in the game.
11 DAVID NWABA G 6-4 219 1/14/93 CAL POLY-S.L.O. / USA 2ND SEASON
2017-18 Averages: 7.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.86 spg, 0.55 bpg, 23.3 mpg, .552 FG%, .231 3FG%, .606 FT%
Notes: Tied career-high 35 minutes played and tied career-high 3 steals at MIL (12/15) … matched a career high with 7 FTs vs. BOS (12/11) …
scored 10+ points in three consecutive games from 12/6-12/9, which is a career-long streak … sprained his right ankle on 11/4 and missed 11
games; returned to action on 12/1 vs. SAC and scored 9 points with 9 rebounds, along with a career-high 5 assists … posted a season-high 16
points at ORL (11/3) … totaled a career-high 11 rebounds against MIA (11/1) and ATL (10/26) … recorded first-career double-double with 15
pts/11 reb vs. ATL (10/26).
45 DENZEL VALENTINE G 6-6 210 11/16/93 MICHIGAN STATE / USA 2ND SEASON
2017-18 Averages: 9.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 0.76 spg, 28.5 mpg, .413 FG%, .401 3FG%, .765 FT%
Notes: Matched season high with 18 points at CLE (12/21) … collected his second double-double this season with 16 pts/10 reb vs. ORL (12/20) …
matched a career high with 3 steals vs. PHX (11/28) … recorded first double-double of season with 14 pts/ career-high 13 reb vs. MIA (11/26) and
also dished out career-high 7 assists in the game … tied a career high with 5 3PM at LAL (11/21) … scored a season-high 18 points, including
going 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and dished out 6 assists vs. CHA (11/17).
Robin Lopez, Traded by New York along with Jose Zach LaVine, Traded by Minnesota along with Kris
Calderon and Jerian Grant for Derrick Rose, Justin Dunn and the draft rights to Lauri Markkanen in
Holiday and a 2017 2nd round pick (06/22/16). exchange for Jimmy Butler and the draft rights to
Justin Patton (06/22/17).
Cameron Payne, Traded by Oklahoma City along Quincy Pondexter, Traded by New Orleans along
with Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow, in with a 2018 2nd round pick and cash considerations
exchange for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and a in exchange for the draft rights to Ater Majok (58th
2018 2nd-round pick (02/23/17). pick, 2011 NBA Draft) 09/01/17).
BULLS SITUATIONAL RECORDS:
Playing the Atlantic Division 4-3 Made 20 or more free throws 2-1
Playing the Central Division 2-5 Bench outscores Opponents’ bench 11-5
Playing the Southeast Division 5-2 On first night of back-to-back 4-3
Playing the Eastern Conference 11-10 On second night of back-to-back 2-5
Playing the Northwest Division 1-4 Nikola Mirotić scores 20+ points 5-0
Playing the Pacific Division 0-5 Justin Holiday scores 20+ points 2-2
Playing the Southwest Division 0-3 Robin Lopez grabs 10+ rebounds 2-1
Playing the Western Conference 1-12 Two Players score 20+ points 6-4
Bulls score 100+ points 10-7 Kris Dunn passes 10+ assists 2-1
Opponents held under 100 points 5-5 Robin Lopez posts a double-double 2-1
Opponents score 100+ points 7-16 Kris Dunn posts a double-double 1-1
Outrebounding Opponents 6-6 Lauri Markkanen posts a double-double 2-5
Record more assists than the Opponent 7-7 Two or more players posted a double-double 4-4
Outshot the Opponent 6-4 On Sunday 0-2
Shot .500 or better from the floor 3-3 On Monday 2-1
Opponent shot .500 or better from the floor 1-9 On Tuesday 1-4
Made more 3FG than the Opponent 5-8 On Wednesday 3-4
Outscoring Opponents in the Paint 4-4 On Thursday 0-3
Outscoring Opponents in 2nd Chance Points 9-7 On Friday 5-3
Outscoring Opponents in Fast Break Points 5-8 On Saturday 1-5
2017-18 TEAM REGULAR SEASON HIGHS 2017-18 TEAM REGULAR SEASON LOWS
Category Bulls Opponents Bulls Opponents
Field Goals 48 – @ CHA, 12/8 OT 51 – @ SAS, 11/11 22 – vs. OKC, 10/28 26 – @ OKC, 11/15
Field Goal Attempts 103 – @ MIL, 12/26 100 – @ CHA, 12/8 OT 75 – @ OKC, 11/15 72 – @ OKC, 11/15
Field Goal Percentage .553 – @ CLE, 12/21 .600 – @ SAS, 11/11 .282 – vs. OKC, 10/28 .361 – @ OKC, 11/15
3-pt. Field Goals 17 (2) – vs. CHA, 11/17 18 – @ SAS, 11/11 5 – @ UTA, 11/22 1 – vs. SAS, 10/21
3-pt. Field Goal Attempts 42 – vs. NOP, 11/4 OT 40 (2) – vs BOS, 12/11 17 – vs. UTA, 12/13 12 – vs. SAS, 10/21
3-pt. Field Goal Percentage .515 – @ CLE, 10/24 .667 – @ SAS, 11/11 .219 – vs. ATL, 10/26 .083 – vs. SAS, 10/21
Free Throws 23 (2) – @ MIL, 12/15 32 – @ OKC, 11/15 6 (2)– @ CLE, 12/21 3 – @ ORL, 11/3
Free Throw Attempts 35 – @ MIL, 12/15 37 – @ OKC, 11/15 8 – @ CLE, 12/21 5 – @ ORL, 11/3
Free Throw Percentage .929 – vs. ORL, 12/20 1.000 (3) – vs. UTA, 12/13 .500 – @ IND, 12/06 .600 – @ ORL, 11/3
Rebounds 62 – vs. ATL, 10/26 57 – vs. PHX, 11/28 28 – @ SAS, 11/11 35 (2) – @ CLE, 12/21
Offensive Rebounds 18 – vs. ATL, 10/26 14 – vs. SAS, 10/21 4 (2) – vs. NYK, 12/27 1 – vs. MIA, 11/26
Defensive Rebounds 50 – @ CHA, 12/8 OT 47 – vs. NOP, 11/4 OT 23 – @ SAS, 11/11 28 – @ CLE, 12/21
Assists 31 – vs. ORL, 12/20 36 – @ GSW, 11/24 15 – @ UTA, 11/22 15 – @ OKC, 11/15
Personal Fouls 28 – @ CHA, 12/8 OT 24 – @ MIL, 12/15 13 (2) – vs. IND, 11/10 9 – vs. NOP, 11/4 OT
Steals 11 (3) – @ MIL, 12/26 16 – vs. OKC, 10/28 3 (4) – @ IND, 12/06 2 (2) – @ MIL, 12/26
Turnovers 20 (2) – vs. OKC, 10/28 20 (2) – @ MIL, 12/26 7 – @ MIL, 12/26 6 – @ BOS, 12/23
Blocks 8 – vs. ORL, 12/20 11 (2) – @ CHA, 12/8 OT 0 – @ MIL, 12/15 0 (2) – @ TOR, 11/7
2017-18 GAMES MISSED DUE TO INJURY/ILLNESS/OTHER 2017-18 CHICAGO BULLS STARTING LINEUPS
Player Reason Games Missed Record Game # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 W-L Pct.
Kris Dunn Left index finger 4 (10/19-26) 1-3 1-3, 5, 9-11 Grant, Holiday, Zipser, Markkanen, Lopez 0-7 .000
dislocation 4, 13-14 Grant, Holiday, Valentine, Markkanen, Lopez 2-1 .667
Justin Holiday Personal 1 (11/15) 0-1 6-8 Grant, Holiday, Nwaba, Markkanen, Lopez 1-2 .333
Zach LaVine Left ACL 34 (10/19-12/27) 12-22 12 Grant, Dunn, Pondexter, Markkanen, Lopez 0-1 .000
Lauri Markkanen Back spasms 3 (12/11-15) 3-0 26-28 Dunn, Holiday, Valentine, Mirotić, Lopez 3-0 1.000
Nikola Mirotić Concussion & 6 (10/19-11/1) 1-5 15-25, 29-34 Dunn, Holiday, Valentine, Markkanen, Lopez 6-11 .353
maxillary fractures
Maxillary fractures 17 (11/3-12/6) 2-15
David Nwaba Right ankle sprain 11 (11/7-28) 1-10
Cameron Payne Right foot 34 (10/19-12/27) 12-22
Bobby Portis Suspension 8 (10/19-11/4) 2-6
Right arm contusion 1 (12/1) 0-1
Paul Zipser Right knee contusion 1 (10/26) 1-0
TOTAL: 120 games
Inactive List: Arcidiacono-28; Blakeney-17; Dunn-4; Felder-2; LaVine-34; DNP-CD: Arcidiacono-3; Blakeney-3; Felder-11; Felício-11; Nwaba-1; Pondexter-
Markkanen-1; Mirotić-22; Nwaba-11; Payne-34. 15; Zipser-3.
Suspended List: Bobby Portis-5.
THE LAST TIME…
AN INDIVIDUAL…
Had 50-plus points: Had a 4-point play:
Chi: 52, Jimmy Butler vs. Charlotte, 01/02/17 Chi: Lauri Markkanen at Cleveland, 12/21/17
Opp: 52, Michael Redd @ Milwaukee, 03/04/07 Opp: Kyle Korver at Cleveland, 12/21/17
Two or more players had 30-plus points: Had 15-plus free throws:
Chi: Jimmy Butler (40), Dwyane Wade (33) vs. Atlanta, 01/25/17 Chi: 15, Jimmy Butler vs. Philadelphia, 03/24/17
Opp: Andre Drummond (33) and Reggie Jackson (31) vs. Detroit, 12/18/15 Opp: 16, DeMar DeRozan vs. Toronto, 01/07/17