January 19, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Chicago Bulls Center Nikola Vucevic (9) Drive to the basket during the first half against Portland Trail Blazers Center Deandre Ayton (2) at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Golden State Warriors fans will get a chance to put a face to rumors when Nikola Vucevic and Chicago Bulls visit San Francisco on Thursday evening.
The great veteran has been linked to the vertically challenged Warriors ever since the Stephen Curry-led team began to tumble from their high seat earlier this season.
After a start of 12-3, Warriors has lost 19 out of 28 to fall below 0.500 and outside the Western Conference’s playoff image.
Golden State got pointless nine minutes from the start center Kevon Looney and 11 points and eight returns in 24 minutes from the second year Storman Trayce Jackson-Davis in Wednesday’s loss with 123-117 against Sacramento Kings.
But perhaps the most telling about Warrior’s big questions was the fact that Quinten Post, a rookie that has seen more action in the G League than in the NBA this season, was called from the bench with 2:15 left and the match. A draw of 113.
Post committed two rule violations-an illegal screen that resulted in a turnover-when Golden State was surpassed by 10-4. Golden State previously had a lead of 18 points.
With a little production from inside the key, Warriors threw 48 3-points-compared to 44 two points-against Kings. They came after a 40-point loss on Monday against Boston Celtics where they tried 53 threes.
Warrior’s coach Steve Kerr says he has no problems taking 50 or more threes in a match.
“As the NBA nowadays works with so many people launching threes,” he said. “If you do a bunch of them, you are in good shape; if you don’t and the other team do a bunch you can roll fast. The game has these huge oscillations and you are more vulnerable than ever.”
Vucevic, who has a traditional offensive game with low posts that Warriors fans have not seen since Andrew Bogut, has scored two-digit goals in all matches except one this season. He poured 40 into Chicago’s home loss against Charlotte Hornets last Friday before contributing an average of 15.5 points and 9.5 returns to Bull’s split at the first two stops in their current three -play western swing.
Chicago had lost five in a row before Monday’s victory on the road with 112-99 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Zach Lavine, another hot name in the NBA’s rumor, went for 35 points in the win.
The show in San Francisco will be the second on Lonzo Ball’s return in California. The former prominent UCLA player, after managing to overcome a career-threatening knee injury, made his second start for the season in the victory over Clippers and contributed five points, four returns, four assists and three Steals in 26 minutes.
After two days off, Ball is expected to meet Warriors for the first time since January 2022. He last played in Bay Area in November 2021.
Bull’s coach Billy Donovan thinks that the comeback, one where Ball received a meniscus transplant, almost unfathomable.
“It says a lot about his resilience and toughness mentally because he was really on an island for himself,” Donovan said. “He was away from our team. He was on rehab. It could be lonely. And it wasn’t like it lasted for six months. It lasted for two and a half years. So I’m just happy for his sake. may be out there and play. “
One of the best matches in Ball’s career came against Warriors in May 2021. When he played for New Orleans Pelicans, Ball bombed seven three points while collecting 33 points, six returns and four assists in a home victory.
— Field Level Media
