Game time is 6 PM CT on CSN-Chicago, with Chicago Bulls Pregame Live at 5:30. The Magic had twice as many free-throws attempts, and though they didn’t do so great on the offensive glass (just over 15% of offensive rebound chances), they corralled 91% of the defensive rebounds, giving the Bulls little chance for easy baskets. Chicago’s defense was so bad Tuesday that they almost allowed the Miami Heat to shoot 70% for the game. That helped the Magic score eight straight for a 41-28 lead before Rose came back in and made a pair of pullup jumpers to bring the Bulls within 43-34 midway through the second quarter.
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The Magic (27-33) got 17 points and seven rebounds from Victor Oladipo.
Aaron Gordon was his typically highly energetic self and it paid off most especially on the glass.
Orlando scored 26 fast break points in Dallas last night – their third-most fast break points in a game since the beginning of the 2011-12 season. Pau Gasol had 12 points and Doug McDermott was the only other Bulls player in double figures with 11.
Opponents are shooting 53.4 percent through Orlando’s 2-4 stretch and four of the last five have scored at least 115 points.
Mario Hezonja lit up the Bulls for a career-high 21 points on Wednesday, hitting 9-of-17 shots with three 3-pointers, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block and zero turnovers in 37 minutes.
Center Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and seven rebounds.
The Magic led 60-50 at halftime.
Vucevic, Hezonja and Oladipo made enough of them to keep Orlando comfortably ahead for the entire second half. Gordon also had a good start with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Hezonja started his third consecutive game on Wednesday, replacing injured small forward Evan Fournier, who sat out with a strained right wrist. He is expected to return Friday…. Rose and Gasol didn’t play in the final period and the closest the Bulls’ reserves could get to 90-74 with 8:14 left in the game. It was the first game he missed this season…. Not to mention the Magic’s penchant for losing leads late and difficulties on defense in recent games.
“This was definitely a step forward”, Magic coach Scott Skiles said.
Hezonja. For the second straight night, the Bulls allowed an opponent to set a career-high for points.
“It’s frustrating because we dig ourselves a hole again coming out of the gate”, Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said.
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“It was good obviously because we got the win, but I’m never happy with myself individually”, Hezonja said.
