Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls Box Score on Oct 26, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 26, 2017

CHICAGO -- Robin Lopez scored 16 points and David Nwaba came off the bench to score 15 points and grab 11 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks 91-86 on Thursday night.

Chicago won for the first time this season behind a balanced scoring attack that included six players reaching double figures. Rookie Lauri Markkanen scored 14 points and had 13 rebounds while Justin Holiday contributed 13 points.

Markkanen, who struggled from the floor on 5-of-13 shooting, connected on a 3-pointer with 48.5 seconds remaining to give Chicago a 90-86 lead.

Marco Belinelli led Atlanta with 23 points. Kent Bazemore scored 16 points and Mike Muscala added 14.

A Belinelli 3-pointer gave the Hawks an 86-85 lead with 1:48 remaining before Holiday hit a short jumper to give the Bulls the lead back. Markkanen's 3-pointer pushed the lead to four and allowed the Bulls to hold on for the victory.

Denzel Valentine made a 3-pointer with 7:38 remaining to extend the Bulls' lead to 75-67 after the Hawks had trimmed the lead to three points less than a minute earlier. The Hawks took a 78-77 lead with 5:53 remaining on a Muscala 3-point field goal.

The Bulls opened the second half on a 12-5 run to build a 49-44 lead with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter. Holiday hit two free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, which stretched Chicago's lead to eight before leading by six to start the fourth quarter.

Atlanta led 39-37 at the half.

NOTES: Hawks G Dennis Schroder (ankle) missed his second straight game, but could return for Atlanta's home opener Friday night. ... F Ersan Ilyasova (knee) was active but did not play. Coach Mike Budenholzer said giving Ilyasova one more day "made a lot of sense." ... The Hawks finished their five-game road trip. ... Bulls F Paul Zipser did not play after sustaining a knee contusion during a scrimmage Wednesday. Zipser participated in shootaround but experienced swelling in the knee. Denzel Valentine started in his place. ... G Kris Dunn remains out with a dislocated finger and swelling in his left hand. Dunn will practice Friday and be re-evaluated Saturday. ... F Nikola Mirotic (concussion, facial fractures) has not cleared the NBA's concussion protocol. Mirotic, who is out 4-to-6 weeks with the injuries sustained in an altercation in practice with F Bobby Portis, will be re-evaluated next week.