Subscribe
Follow Us
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine immediately walked off the playing court shortly after Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard hit a game-winning triple to sink his team, 123-22 on Saturday. LaVine's frustrations were evident post-game, as he lamented on one crucial play that turned the tides in the Blazers' favor.
Before Lillard drilled that dagger trey, the referees called a jump ball in the previous possession after LaVine was double-teamed by Blazers defenders Garry Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood.
Per NBS Chicago's KC Johnson, LaVine disagrees with that call since the Blazers supposedly had no control of the possession at the time. The 25-year-old high-flyer was also unhappy with his team for losing a five-point lead in just a span of 11 seconds.
Zach LaVine: “I didn’t think it was a jump ball. I didn’t think they had their hands on it.”
LaVine added even with that, a team shouldn’t lose 5-point lead with 11 seconds left.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 31, 2021
Do you agree with LaVine's take? Here's a closer look at the now-controversial call.
https://twitter.com/JordanNogle/status/1355721416235241474
Entering Saturday's home game at United Center, the Bulls were hoping to snap a two-game losing streak. They were on their way to achieving that goal until disaster struck in the final seconds of regulation.
Zach LaVine came away with a fine performance in the losing effort, scoring 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. He made nine of his 12 attempts from the field and went 6-for-8 from distance in 35 minutes. Chicago also got a huge boost from Lauri Markkanen's team-best 31 points and Coby White's 20 markers. However, Lillard's 44-point onslaught was just too much to handle as they came home empty-handed in the end. It remains unclear if the league will take a second look at that controversial jump ball, which clearly irked LaVine.
