Bulls DeMar DeRozan extends historic scoring streak in win vs. Hawks

Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan went for 37 points on 15-of-21 shooting from the field in Thursday night's 112-108 win over the Atlanta Hawks, extending his streak of games with 35 or more points on 50 percent or better shooting from the field to eight. On Feb. 16, he set the NBA record with his seventh such game.

DeRozan also passed Michael Jordan's 1988 mark for the second-longest streak of 35-plus points in Bulls history; Jordan still has the team record at 10 games, per NBC Sports Chicago.

DeRozan, 32, is now the seventh player in NBA history with eight straight 35-point games, joining Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Elgin Baylor and Jordan.

The five-time All-Star led a late charge for Chicago, scoring back-to-back pull-up jumpers to give the Bulls a 110-108 lead. The winning bucket came with 15.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as DeRozan made an and-1 elbow jumper with Bogdan Bogdanovic committing the foul. DeRozan knocked down the free throw, notching his 37th point of the night.

Danilo Gallinari led the Hawks with 26 points and nine rebounds.

DeRozan is currently on pace for the highest-scoring season of his 13-year career, averaging 28.3 points on 52.1 percent shooting from the field. He ranks third in the NBA in points per game behind Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bulls (39-21) improved to first in the Eastern Conference with the win and will host the Memphis Grizzlies (41-20) Saturday.

(Photo: Melissa Tamez / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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What’s been working for DeRozan during this streak?

Darnell Mayberry, Bulls beat writer: DeRozan has reveled in what he labeled "being able to be free." That is apparent when you watch DeRozan work. You see a player who's in complete control. He's comfortable, confident and at ease. He plays at his pace, gets to his spots and takes only his preferred shots.

It's the same formula DeRozan has long employed, only now he's benefiting from unquestioned autonomy as he powers the Bulls' offense. Of DeRozan's 194 field goal attempts over the past eight games, 121 have come between 10 and 22 feet. He's made 54.4 percent of those midrange shots while expertly complementing that white-hot efficiency with rim attacks and free throws. DeRozan has attempted only 13 3-pointers over this stretch — and he's made six of those. It's all working for DeRozan right now.

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Making the case for DeRozan for MVP

Mayberry: Tristan Thompson said it best on the eve of his Bulls debut: "For him to be able to just hold the fort down and keep that ship riding high, I mean, that’s what an MVP does."

DeRozan's statistical production speaks for itself. What could tilt a few votes in his favor is how DeRozan has kept the Bulls afloat despite significant injuries to starting point guard Lonzo Ball, starting power forward Patrick Williams and sixth man Alex Caruso, as well as other key pieces bouncing in and out of the lineup. Simply put, without DeRozan's steady hand, the Bulls would again be a lottery team.

What is Chicago's ceiling this season?

Mayberry: For all the excitement they've generated, that remains the most intriguing thing about these Bulls. We still don't know how good they can be. They've rarely been at full strength, and yet here they are, defiantly sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings.

We'll soon see if they can hold on, as their final 22 games rank as one of the league's most difficult in strength of schedule. But if ever they get whole before the season's end, look out.

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