Andre Drummond guides the Chicago Bulls to victory with a commanding display of rebounding prowess against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While the Chicago Bulls boast a formidable double-big lineup with Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond, it’s not a strategy they can consistently deploy, especially against teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have big men capable of shooting from long range such as Kristaps Porzingis or Anthony Davis. However, when facing the Cavaliers’ duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, Vucevic and Drummond stepped up to the challenge.
In a thrilling double-overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls saw Coby White named to The Athletic’s ‘All-Fun Team’ and secured a remarkable win. Drummond played a pivotal role in pushing Chicago to victory, particularly dominating the boards with an impressive 26 rebounds in just 36 minutes of play. His impact wasn’t limited to rebounding; Drummond also contributed offensively, scoring 17 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting.
Drummond’s historic rebounding performance was part of a record-setting night for the Bulls. They established a new franchise record for rebounds in a half with 39 and totaled 74 rebounds for the game, the highest in the league this season. Moreover, they scored 32 second-chance points, another season-high. This remarkable effort marked the first time they exceeded 70 rebounds since November 5, 1975.
After the game, DeMar DeRozan praised Drummond’s rebounding prowess, highlighting his unique skill set in today’s NBA landscape.
Despite potential spacing and quickness issues, the Bulls’ dominance on the boards poses a significant challenge for opponents, helping them secure possessions and wear down teams with a physical style of play. Drummond emphasized the difficulty for opposing teams in dealing with both him and Vucevic on the boards, while DeRozan echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the dominance they bring to rebounding at both ends of the floor.
