Zach LaVine has been ballin' all season for the Chicago Bulls, but tonight he re-wrote the record books with a season-high 46 points in their 129-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
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It marked the second 40-point game of the season for LaVine and moves him to second for the most 45-point games in Bulls franchise history with four. Michael Jordan owns that record with 73!
LaVine, who looks on track to earn his first All-Star berth this season, is sitting fifth among guards in the Eastern Conference fan voting, but after tonight's performance, it would seem impossible to leave him out.
He poured in 20 points in the first quarter on a ridiculous 7-of-8 from the field and 5-of-5 from the 3-point line, adding two rebounds and two assists as the Pelicans couldn't find an answer for the explosive 25-year-old.
To put it in context, there have been four 20-point quarters this season and LaVine owns two of them, with Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic having one each.
Zach LaVine scored 20 points in a quarter for the 6th time with the Bulls. That is double any other Bulls player over the last 25 seasons (Ben Gordon and Michael Jordan each had 3 such quarters). pic.twitter.com/z2c2rvDEru
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 11, 2021
Such has been the evolution of the two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion's game, LaVine has increased his 3-point percentage every season since arriving in Chicago and is now one of the league's most lethal players from beyond the arc.
This season LaVine is fifth in scoring at 28.2 points per game, shooting 42.2 percent from the 3-point line on 8.3 attempts per game, boasting career bests in scoring, rebounding, assists, field-goal percentage and three-point percentage.
After scoring 35 points in their last game against the Wizards and 39 in the game prior against the Magic, LaVine has now scored 120 points across his last three games, becoming the first Bulls player to do so in a three-game span since Michael Jordan in 1997.
Zach LaVine is the first Bulls player to score 120 points in a 3-game span since Michael Jordan in Dec. 1997. pic.twitter.com/48uFH9AMvE
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 11, 2021
While LaVine smashed plenty of records on his own, alongside point guard Coby White, the duo created NBA history, combining for 17 3-pointers, becoming the first teammates EVER to each make eight threes in the same game, per NBA Stats.
A feat not even Curry and Klay Thompson have managed.
Zach LaVine and Coby White have each hit 8 threes so far tonight.
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) February 11, 2021
They are the first pair of teammates to ever hit 8+ threes each in the same game. pic.twitter.com/bWBWaNj9Kv
White recorded 30 points and seven assists, knocking down 8-of-17 from three, while LaVine buried 9-of-14. As a team, the Bulls set a new franchise record with 25 made 3-pointers in the win.
With their two young guards showcasing their offensive potential, Bulls fans have plenty of reasons to be excited this season. A first-time All-Star berth for Zach LaVne is one of them.
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