Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
With multiple players out, Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls did all he could to make up for the key absences for his roster.
The second-year forward ended up turning in a career-best performance, etching himself in Chicago Bulls history.
After the 130-124 Bulls win over the Golden State Warriors, Buzelis found out he was one of three Bulls players to score at least 40 points in a single game while being under 21 years old.
The other two? Michael Jordan and Elton Brand. That’s quite the company for Buzelis.
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What a night for Matas Buzelis 👏
He joins Michael Jordan and Elton Brand as the only Bulls to score 40 points before turning 21
Matas Buzelis Reacts To A Historic Bulls Night
Chicago Bulls Matas Buzelis
GettyChicago Bulls’ second-year forward Matas Buzlis had a career-game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.
“I don’t know, man. Honestly, I don’t know why God keeps giving me gifts. I keep thanking him every day,” Buzelis said after the game.
“I keep thanking my family, thanking all of those people who help me. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done for me, you could’ve given me a ride to practice, it doesn’t matter. I’ll always appreciate everybody who has helped me. I am appreciative of playing basketball at an NBA level, and it’s all God’s gift, man. I thank God at the end of the day.”
Buzelis played in 45 minutes on Tuesday night. He shot 16-28 from the field, making five of his shots from beyond the arc. He also went 4-5 from the charity stripe, posting 41 points.
Beyond his scoring, Buzelis came down with six rebounds, passed out two assists, snatched up two steals, and blocked two shots. He did a little bit of everything, while notching the game-high.
“Everybody is sticking together,” Buzelis said of his team’s success on Tuesday. “We had bodies out. I’m just super proud of our guys for sticking together and sharing the ball really well. Playing for each other, that’s what really matters, and that’s how we got the win.”
Buzelis’ co-star, Josh Giddey, hit on 7-16 shots from the field. The starting point guard generated 21 points. He picked up a triple-double by coming down with 13 rebounds and adding 17 assists to his performance.
With the win over the Warriors, the Bulls improved to 27-38. While the league understands where the Bulls stand at this point in the year, after they turned to sellers at the deadline, Buzelis and his teammates aren’t buying into a tanking strategy. The veteran forward is motivated to get his team on the right track.
After Tuesday’s win, the Bulls are 12th in the Eastern Conference. The Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and the Indiana Pacers are the three teams way deeper in the standings than Chicago. The Bulls have 10 more wins than Brooklyn.
It might be difficult for Buzelis and the Bulls to crack a Play-In spot this year, but the young core in Chicago continues to prove that they might be a threat in the East in the not-so-distant future.