In the waning minutes of the Chicago Bulls’ 108-107 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night, Zach LaVine found himself in an unfamiliar place: on the bench, watching his team attempt a comeback.
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan walks away from Orlando Magic players as they celebrate a 108-107 win at United Center on Nov. 18, 2022, in Chicago.
Donovan opted to replace LaVine with second-year guard Ayo Dosunmu for the final 3 minutes, 43 seconds. LaVine believed he could have affected the result if he had played in the final minutes.“It’s a tough decision,” LaVine said. “Obviously I want to be out there. That’s the reason I’m here is to go out there and be Zach LaVine. But it’s the coach’s decision. I can’t just go out there and jump on the court even if I want to.
Donovan attributed the decision to sit LaVine on the guard’s off-shooting night, adding that he needed to make the choice for a closing lineup based on who was playing at their best. Reserves Alex Caruso and Javonte Green also closed the game after strong performances in the second half. Bulls guard Zach LaVine puts up a shot in the first quarter against the Magic on Friday at the United Center.
After ramping up from his left knee injury in the early weeks of the season. LaVine’s shooting efficiency hasn’t fully returned. He’s shooting 44% — down from 47.6% last season — and averaging 2.2 fewer points per game.[Don't miss] Patrick Williams avoids a major ankle injury but remains wary of missing Chicago Bulls games: ‘It was almost like a nightmare’Despite the slight decline, LaVine’s 3-point shooting efficiency has remained steady .
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