Pascal Siakam scored 22 points, and the Toronto Raptors held on to beat the Chicago Bulls 93-92 on Monday night when Zach LaVine missed a runner in the closing seconds.
The defending NBA champions ended their first three-game skid since last November and beat Chicago for the 11th straight time. Norman Powell added 17 points for Toronto, including six in the fourth quarter.
Click to Gallery
Pascal Siakam scored 22 points, and the Toronto Raptors held on to beat the Chicago Bulls 93-92 on Monday night when Zach LaVine missed a runner in the closing seconds.
Raptors guard Fred VanVleet missed the game because of a bruised right knee. Kyle Lowry scored 11 points in his third game after missing 11 in a row with a broken left thumb. The five-time All-Star made 1 of 8 3-pointers, and the Raptors hit 7 of 29 from beyond the arc.
The Bulls had a chance to win in the closing seconds after an out-of-bounds call got overturned by replay review. Tomas Satoransky inbounded to LaVine, who missed a runner along the left side. Gafford was unable to control the rebound, and the ball bounced around as time expired.
Bulls: Chicago has not beaten Toronto since Feb. 14, 2017. ... F Chandler Hutchison (right shoulder sprain) missed his sixth consecutive game. Coach Jim Boylen said Hutchison is not ready for contact in practice. ... Boylen said LaVine (shoulder) and G Coby White (hamstring) are playing through pain.
Bulls: Host Atlanta on Wednesday.
Toronto Raptors' Pascal Siakam (43) shoots as Chicago Bulls' Denzel Valentine defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, left, listens to Kyle Lowry during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Bulls' Kris Dunn reacts after being called for a foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Toronto Raptors' Pascal Siakam, right, drives to the basket as Chicago Bulls' Kris Dunn defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
LaVine scored 20 points for Chicago — all in the first half. Wendell Carter Jr. had 14 points for the Bulls, who made just 12 of 46 3-pointers on the way to their sixth loss in eight games.
Toronto Raptors' Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (4) drives to the basket past Chicago Bulls' Denzel Valentine during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Raptors guard Fred VanVleet missed the game because of a bruised right knee. Kyle Lowry scored 11 points in his third game after missing 11 in a row with a broken left thumb. The five-time All-Star made 1 of 8 3-pointers, and the Raptors hit 7 of 29 from beyond the arc.
Denzel Valentine led the way as Chicago opened the fourth quarter with a 14-6 run that turned a 71-all tie into an 85-77 lead. He nailed a jumper, buried two 3-pointers and fed Daniel Gafford for two alley-oop dunks. But the Raptors responded by scoring nine straight, going ahead on Lowry's two free throws with 3:52 remaining.
Toronto was leading 89-87 when Chicago's Lauri Markkanen nailed a 3 with 1:45 left. Powell scored for Toronto and Gafford hit a layup to give Chicago a 92-91 lead. Then Lowery scored on a drive with 51 seconds remaining.
Chicago Bulls' Coby White fouls Toronto Raptors' Malcolm Miller during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
The Bulls had a chance to win in the closing seconds after an out-of-bounds call got overturned by replay review. Tomas Satoransky inbounded to LaVine, who missed a runner along the left side. Gafford was unable to control the rebound, and the ball bounced around as time expired.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Coach Nick Nurse said an MRI showed no structural damage on VanVleet. Averaging 18 points and seven assists, he left in the first half of a loss at Philadelphia on Sunday. ... Siakam scored 13 points in the first quarter.
Toronto Raptors' Marc Gasol, right, pressures Chicago Bulls' Wendell Carter Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Bulls: Chicago has not beaten Toronto since Feb. 14, 2017. ... F Chandler Hutchison (right shoulder sprain) missed his sixth consecutive game. Coach Jim Boylen said Hutchison is not ready for contact in practice. ... Boylen said LaVine (shoulder) and G Coby White (hamstring) are playing through pain.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Toronto Raptors' Norman Powell (24) pressures Chicago Bulls' Tomas Satoransky during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Bulls: Host Atlanta on Wednesday.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Chicago Bulls' Lauri Markkanen dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Toronto Raptors Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Toronto Raptors' Pascal Siakam (43) shoots as Chicago Bulls' Denzel Valentine defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, left, listens to Kyle Lowry during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Bulls' Kris Dunn reacts after being called for a foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Toronto Raptors' Pascal Siakam, right, drives to the basket as Chicago Bulls' Kris Dunn defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)