Bulls coach Donavon praises risk taker LaVine in Clippers triumph

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan showered praise on Zach LaVine's performance that helped the Chicago Bulls return to winning ways.

LaVine scored 35 points as the Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 112-99 to snap their five-game skid.

Talen Horton-Tucker added 18 points off the bench and Josh Giddey had 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Bulls improved to 2-6 in back-to-backs this season.

The Clippers' four-game winning run ended without starters Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac. Norman Powell scored 27 points and James Harden added 17 points and 10 assists.

LaVine led a dominant third quarter with 15 points. The Bulls outscored the Clippers 36-16 to turn a two-point half-time deficit into an 18-point lead going into the fourth.

The Bulls made 15 3-pointers, led by five from LaVine, while the Clippers were 9 of 42 from long range, with Donovan impressed with the risks he took during the contest.

"Coming out of the last game against Portland, I think Zach would agree with this, that there were a lot of chances to shoot the basketball from behind the line," Donovan said.

"We need him to do that. Looking back at the film and, talking to him, he acknowledged he should have taken a few more.

"I thought for the most part of the game he was pretty quick and decisive and that is when he is at his best.

"His mind was like I can't let that happen and I need to be aggressive, and we need him to do what he did tonight.

"Not so much the last two or three minutes, but during the course of the game I really liked the way he played."

Zach LaVine showing out in LA pic.twitter.com/LfyUwZSMgF

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 21, 2025

One of the bright spots of the game was Lonzo Ball starting at guard for the Bulls and playing 26 minutes against the Clippers.

In that time, he put up five points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block as a +7 from the field.

After the game, Donovan spoke glowingly about Ball's struggles to stay healthy over the past few seasons, having been hit with a persistent knee injury.

"We were committed to him," Donovan said. "Obviously, he was under contract, and we were going to do everything we possibly could to help him get healthy.

"He did everything he could on his end to do the same. We were all happy that he was able to get back and really be a consistent contributor to our team.

"I think two and a half years ago, no one knew what was going to happen."

Ball underwent a cartilage transplant on his left knee in March 2023, while also revealing he received a meniscus transplant to try and overcome the issue.

He made his return for the Bulls in October last year in a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves before starting their season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans.

"And I think it speaks volumes not only to his recovery and rehab with what the doctors did and getting him back on the court, but I also think it speaks volumes to his resiliency and toughness mentally to fight through that because he really was on an island by himself," Donovan said.

"He was away from our team, he was in rehab. That can become lonely, and it wasn’t like it was going on for six months; that went on for two and a half years. So, I’m just happy for him that he can be out there playing."