The Sports Xchange
Dec 8, 2017
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points and the Chicago Bulls snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 119-111 overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night at the Spectrum Center.
Markkanen scored five points in the extra session, and his 3-pointer with 2:08 remaining made it 113-108 and was probably the key basket of the game.
The Bulls (4-20) had not won since beating the Hornets in Chicago on Nov. 17.
Kris Dunn had 20 points and 12 assists for the Bulls. Robin Lopez finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Justin Holiday scored 17. Markkanen also had 12 rebounds.
The Hornets (9-15) have now lost six of their last seven.
Dwight Howard led the Hornets with 25 points and 20 rebounds. Kemba Walker scored 20, Marvin Williams 17 and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 15.
The Bulls led 31-25 after one quarter and score was tied 52-52 at halftime. Charlotte took a 79-75 lead after three quarters.
It was 106-106 at the end of regulation, after the Hornets rallied from a five-point deficit in the final five minutes. Walker's two free throws with 5.3 seconds left made it 106-106, and then Dunn missed a potentially winning 17-footer at the buzzer.
NOTES: Hornets coach Steve Clifford missed his third straight game because of illness, with associate head coach Stephen Silas again taking over. ... The Bulls won the only previous game between the teams this season, 123-120 in Chicago on Nov. 17. ... The Hornets were without F Frank Kaminsky (right ankle sprain) and F Cody Zeller (torn meniscus, left knee). They also lost G Jeremy Lamb in the first half with a shin contusion. ... The Bulls were without G Zach LaVine (left ACL) and G Cameron Payne (right foot). ... The Hornets sent G Julyan Stone to Greensboro of the G League on Friday. Stone had appeared in only two games with the Hornets all season. ... The Bulls were coming off a 98-96 loss at Indiana on Wednesday. They will return home to host New York on Saturday. ... The Hornets were playing the third game of a four-game homestand, after losing to Golden State 101-87 on Wednesday. They will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.