After a promising preseason, the Chicago Bulls began the regular season on the road Wednesday against a Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans team. Williamson may be the Pelicans' higher-billed star, but Brandon Ingram made his presence felt by scoring 33 points on the Bulls. Zach LaVine had some promising moments but the rest of the turnover-plagued Bulls couldn't bolster the guard's efforts in a 123-111 loss on opening night.
Shaking Off the Rust
The Bulls struggled beyond the arc early by shooting 3/11 on three-point attempts in the opening frame. Although the Pelicans had a similar shooting performance, they got to the free-throw line and caused turnovers.
Lonzo Ball made his highly-anticipated return to regular-season action against his former team at the six-minute mark. Surprisingly, Talen Horton-Tucker subbed in before lottery pick Matas Buzelis. Throughout the first quarter, both teams tinkered with lineups to see which matched up best.
Zach LaVine Puts on Early Shooting Clinic
The Bulls entered the second quarter down four, but LaVine's three-point shooting heroics kept things interesting. Although LaVine had an impressive shooting night, the rest of the Bulls still struggled on both sides of the ball.
Buzelis made his NBA debut by having to guard Ingram while Coby White sought to find his offense. In response, the Pelicans drove to the rim to create three-point opportunities. Both teams continued to exchange baskets without allowing the opposition to amass a double-digit lead.
Pelicans Surge to Open Second Half
The Bulls began the second half with an and-1 dunk from Nikola Vucevic, but New Orleans then upped its defensive pressure to generate a 7-0 run. On Chicago's end, head coach Billy Donovan made a defensive adjustment by having Patrick Williams guard Ingram.
While the sides exchanged baskets in the third quarter, the Pelicans firmly held onto their lead. Herb Jones finished the third frame with a buzzer-beater three, extending New Orleans' lead to 12.
Bulls' Sloppiness, Pelicans' Final Push Seal the Deal
LaVine slammed home the Bulls' first points of the fourth quarter, but Ingram took control down the stretch. Along with contributions from former Bull Javonte Green, the Pelicans prevented Chicago from gaining any offensive momentum. Pelicans' rookie Yves Missi enjoyed an impressive NBA debut by limiting Bulls' points at the rim.
Overall, Chicago failed to protect the ball, as evidenced by 21 total turnovers, in a 12-point loss to New Orleans.
What's Next On Tap?
The Bulls are back in action Friday when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks, who will most likely be without a key player in Khris Middleton. Chicago will look to clean up its possessions to avoid letting the game slip away like it did against New Orleans. Friday's tip-off is at 7 p.m. CT and the game will air on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN).
