BY: ROSER CUNANAN – SPORTS ON AIR USA CORRESPONDENT
April 14, 2024
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls ended their 2023-24 regular season campaign on a low note with a 120-119 overtime loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday at the famed Madison Square Garden.
The defeat pushed the Bulls’ record to 39-43, relegating them to ninth place in the Eastern Conference and into the play-in tournament alongside the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat.
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls for the season with 24 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per in 79 games played. But it was yet another disappointing campaign pockmarked by injuries to point guard Lonzo Ball who missed all 82 games following knee surgery while high-flying star Zach LaVine was held to only 25 contests.
Coby White compensated for the dearth in guard play with an average of 19.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists but despite his breakout performance, Chicago ranked just 22nd in the league in offense (112.3 per) while surrendering 113.7 points per.
To advance to main draw of theplayoffs, the Bulls need to beat the Hawks and the winner between the Sixers-Heat showdown. Last season the Bulls lost to the Heat in the knockout game for the No.8 seed.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
Despite their struggles, the Bulls finished the 2023-24 NBA as No.1 in attendance by drawing in a total of 845,620 in 41 home games.
