Getty DeMar DeRozan
This feels like deja vu.
For the second straight day, the Chicago Bulls‘ DeMar DeRozan nailed a game-winning three-point shot to rescue a road win from the jaws of defeat. On New Year’s Eve, the Indiana Pacers were the victims. On New Year’s Day, DeRozan sunk the Washington Wizards 120-119 with this miracle shot from the corner.
DeRozan’s game-winner gave him 28 points, which is exactly what he finished Friday’s game with in the victory over the Pacers. He also had nine rebounds and five assists. The Bulls extended their win streak to seven games and their lead in the Eastern Conference standings to a full game as the Brooklyn Nets fell 120-116 to the Los Angeles Clippers at home on Saturday.
Twitter Reacts to DeRozan’s Second Straight Game-Winning Shots
You know you’ve gotten the attention of everyone in the NBA when LeBron James is tweeting about your heroics on an off night for the Los Angeles Lakers.
WOOOWWW!! D-Bo AGAIN!!!!! Ballgame
The Lakers reportedly have discussions with DeRozan about joining them this offseason, but ultimately, the team chose to trade for Russell Westbrook. The Bulls are 24-10 and in first place in the East. The Lakers are 18-19 and in the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
Phoenix Suns star and future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul has a short, but accurate description of DeRozan after the big shot.
Demar so cold!!!!!!!!!!! ✊🏾
How rare is it for a player to hit game-winning buzzer-beaters on back-to-back days? How about this is the first time in NBA history, per Basketball Reference?
DeMar DeRozan is the first player in NBA history to hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in back-to-back days!
When you factor in the level of difficulty of the shot he hit to beat the Pacers, and the one on Saturday to sink the Wizards, the feat is even more special. Now mix in the fact that the shots were both three-point field goals from a guy who is a career 28.5% shooter from long range, and it is clear something special is happening in the Windy City this year.
Bleacher Nation Bulls captured both of DeRozan’s game-winners just before the release. Both of these shots are very well contested.
They say the sequel is never as good as the original.
They are wrong.
Check out this Wizards fan reaction to DeRozan’s heroics in the tweet from the Bulls’ official Twitter account.
COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU.
Chicago Bulls Talk believes this latest moment from DeRozan is just another projectile fired from the NBA All-Star built to throw it back in the face of his haters.
DeMar DeRozan is on a mission to prove his haters wrong.
These back to back game winners just an early preview of what is to come. Wait until the playoffs then he’ll shut these doubters up for good.
The Bulls Stole Another One
Similar to the win over the Pacers, this win over the Wizards was one the team probably didn’t deserve. They badly missed the perimeter defense from Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso again as the Wizards’ guards and Kyle Kuzma simply had their way attacking the basket with little resistance.
Washington had an otherworldly 72 points in the paint and were in control most of the game. They carried a two-point lead into the final 4 seconds of the game after Kuzma made a clutch three that drove his team-high scoring total to 29 points.
As much love as DeRozan deserves for a second consecutive game-winning three, the Bulls don’t win this game without Zach LaVine’s game-high 35 points. He carried the offense for most of the first half while almost everyone struggled from the field.
Coby White again played well as he came up with a number of big buckets and hustle plays. White finished with 20 points and 5 assists in what might be his final game in the starting lineup considering Lonzo Ball is expected to return from COVID-19 protocols on January 3 when the Bulls host the Orlando Magic.