There is no doubt the Chicago Bulls are hurting after losing to the San Antonio Spurs 121-117 on Monday. The defining moment came when Victor Wembanyama hit back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute of the fourth quarter, sealing the game for the Spurs.
In retrospect, something became clear during the late stages of the game: Bulls’ second-year guard Matas Buzelis was sitting on the bench even as the contest grew increasingly competitive. Buzelis had been the Bulls’ starting shooting guard through the first ten games of the season.
After the game, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan provided some insight into his decision, as reported by Cody Westerlund of 670 The Score. Donovan explained that with the presence of Wembanyama and Luke Kornet crowding the paint and limited off-ball movement, it would have been challenging and risky to put Buzelis on the court during those critical moments.
“This was a contrast to how things operated in the first half when the Bulls were moving without the ball and Buzelis was matched up with Harrison Barnes,” Donovan said. “The two bigs out there and then him having to be in coverage, I think that was really challenging for him quite honestly. We weren’t switching. We had been switching earlier in the game with Barnes.”
Overall, Buzelis finished the game with 15 points in 25 minutes. He also hit two three-pointers and grabbed five rebounds. However, he did end the game with four fouls, which may have influenced the coaching staff’s decision to limit his minutes late in the contest.
### An Assessment of Matas Buzelis’s Last Three Games
With the loss to the Spurs, the Bulls are now on a three-game losing streak, standing at 6-4 overall this season. When it comes to Buzelis, his performance over the last three games has seen some ups and downs.
– **Against the Milwaukee Bucks:** Buzelis had an impressive outing, scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds. He shot 66.7% from the field and was perfect at the free throw line. However, from beyond the arc, he shot just 33.3% and committed three turnovers in the 126-110 loss.
– **Against the Cleveland Cavaliers:** Buzelis struggled, shooting only 16.7% from the field and finishing with four points as the Bulls fell 128-122. He played just 18 minutes in this game.
– **Against the San Antonio Spurs:** Buzelis bounced back with 15 points, as mentioned earlier, shooting a more efficient 44.6% in the game overall.
Across these three contests, Buzelis averaged 13 points per game and shot 44.6% from the field. In terms of playing time, he averaged 26.3 minutes per game.
As the Bulls continue to navigate this challenging stretch, Buzelis’s development and ability to adapt within the team’s evolving strategies will be key to Chicago’s success moving forward.
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