Despite numerous injuries to key players (Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Patrick Williams, etc), the Chicago Bulls now have won five straight games and are currently the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 38-21.
That’s because the Bulls have DeMar DeRozan!
Last Friday, DeRozan joined Michael Jordan as the only players in Bulls history to have four straight games with at least 35 points.
And on Tuesday, DeRozan tied Wilt Chamberlain for the longest NBA streak of scoring at least 35 points while shooting at least 50% from the field.
Well, DeRozan got that record all to himself in the Bulls’ 125-118 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
DeRozan scored 38 points while shooting 59.2% from the field (16/27), giving him an NBA record seven straight games with at least 35 points and a field goal percentage of at least 50.
It happened. DeMar DeRozan is the first player in NBA history with 35+ points on 50% shooting in 7 straight games.
38 PTS | 59 FG%
40 PTS | 67 FG%
38 PTS | 50 FG%
35 PTS | 64 FG%
36 PTS | 68 FG%
38 PTS | 59 FG%
45 PTS | 60 FG% pic.twitter.com/LjNqZAxnpB— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 17, 2022
DeMar DeRozan on becoming the first player in NBA history with seven straight games of at least 35 points while shooting at least 50 percent from the field. pic.twitter.com/pJlu67G9LC
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) February 17, 2022
Ridiculous.
DeRozan is truly playing at an MVP level and has put the East-best Bulls on his back for so many games this year (and especially of late).
Zach LaVine just interrupted DeMar DeRozan’s postgame press conference to say See you in Cleveland, MVP.
They’re on same flight to All-Star weekend.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 17, 2022
DeMar DeRozan this season:
— 28/5/5 on 52% shooting
— 2nd in clutch points
— Shooting 54/67/90% in clutch
— 7 straight 35 PTS, 50 FG% games
— Did something Wilt never did
— First seed in the East
— Rest of starters missed 97 games combinedMVP? pic.twitter.com/duS2dsvDRH
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 17, 2022
Next up for DeRozan will be the All-Star Game, which he’s starting for the Eastern Conference.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.