Bulls search for inspiration to snap hunch towards inconsistent Hawks

Chicago forward Torrey Craig crashed into a camera on the baseline while pursuing a rebound during the Bulls’ loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday.

“I got a little blood on my elbow, a little blood on my nose. My ankle,” Craig said. “I like games like that.”

With injuries opening a spot for Craig in the starting lineup, the bump-and-shove looks to continue for the Bulls, who hope the frontcourt veteran’s energetic influence rubs off. Chicago has lost eight of 11 entering Friday’s visit from the Atlanta Hawks.

Starting in place of Patrick Williams, who’s expected to miss at least a week with left foot inflammation, Craig scored 15 points while snagging six rebounds in a 122-106 loss to the Bucks, matching Nikola Vucevic for the team high on the glass.

“It’s no secret; you’ve just got to want the ball,” Craig said. “I’m a competitor. The ball’s up, I try to compete for it.”

Craig missed Chicago’s Nov. 9 game at Atlanta due to illness. The Bulls won 125-113 behind 19 points from Ayo Dosunmu and Vucevic’s 18-point, 12-rebound double-double. Coby White and Zach LaVine also scored 18 points.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan said LaVine “carried us” against the Bucks, who closed the game on an 18-4 run. LaVine scored 20 of his 27 points before halftime and shot 9 of 15 for the game, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

“I’ve seen his shot-making; it’s been incredible,” Donovan said. “He has the ability to get on a roll.”

Atlanta is eyeing a split of a four-game road trip that has sandwiched losses at Portland and Golden State around a one-point victory in Sacramento.

The Hawks lost 120-97 at Golden State on Wednesday, scoring just four points more than their season low.

“I didn’t think that we talked enough tonight,” said Atlanta coach Quin Snyder, whose team shot 33.3 percent, including just 26.7 percent (12 of 45) from deep. “And sometimes that happens when you’re not making shots and it’s actually when you need each other, and even more.

“Regardless of who’s in the game, how long they play, we can run. You can run. You can see that there’s a corner and it’s empty and you can fill it, and you can see where the ball is and you can space, and doing that gives us a chance to get connected.”

Atlanta played with its full rotation against the Warriors. After missing the Sacramento game with left leg inflammation, Jalen Johnson posted a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds to lead six Hawks in double-figure scoring.

Trae Young (12 points, 11 assists) and Clint Capela (11 points, 10 rebounds) also contributed double-doubles.

Friday marks the resumption of NBA Cup play. Atlanta is seeking a 3-0 start in East Group C after previous victories at Boston and against Washington. The Bulls lost their lone group play contest to date, at Cleveland.

Group play will continue on Tuesdays and Fridays through Dec. 3 to determine an elimination bracket later in the month. The winner of each group plus one wild card from each conference will advance to the knockout rounds.

Chicago has won six of 10 against Atlanta.

LaVine has shot 53.6 percent while averaging 25.4 points in his past 10 games against the Hawks.

–Field Level Media