WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 18: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 18, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON D.C. – Maybe it’s better if the Bulls don’t have a lead at all for most of the fourth quarter. They’ve not done very well with this season when they’ve had the advantage late, so maybe deficits bring out the best in them?
We’ll not typically, but for one night, it worked to pull out a win in what was mostly a bad night.
Trailing the Wizards by 18 points with 8:21 left to go, the Bulls finished the fourth quarter on a 23-5 run to force overtime, then managed to rally again in the extra session. Wendell Carter Jr. hit a pair of free throws then a short hoop with 9.1 seconds left to give the Bulls the lead, and a late defensive stop sealed an improbable 110-109 victory over Washington.
