From the opening possession, on which Robin Lopez dunked on Jordan Bell, the Bulls looked like they meant business Wednesday night at the United Center.
Lauri Markkanen blocked Steph Curry’s jumper. Nikola Mirotic contested Kevin Durant in transition to force a miss and then buried a 3-pointer at the other end.
The “appropriate fear game” term that Warriors coach Steve Kerr raised at shootaround and first heard from his coach in San Antonio, Gregg Popovich, seemed to be playing out to form.
After all, the Warriors were without Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, lost Bell to a sprained left ankle as he descended from trying to block that Lopez dunk and had won three straight emotional games against strong teams in the Bucks, Raptors and Cavaliers on this five-game trip.
Then the Warriors happened. And quicker than a Curry wrist flick, the Bulls were buried in an avalanche of 3-pointers.
The Warriors tied their franchise record set in their 73-9 2015-16 season with their 14th straight road victory, snapping the Bulls’ three-game winning streak with a 119-112 clinic.
“We got sped up,” Zach LaVine said. “We’re trying to match them at their game. As much as we’re trying to build that rep as a fast-paced team, they’re the best at it. You can’t play that game with them. You have to get some stops.”
The Bulls also lost Kris Dunn with 2 minutes, 52 seconds left after Dunn landed on his face descending from a dunk. His mouth visibly full of blood, Dunn stayed on the floor receiving medical attention for several minutes before walking off under his own power.
Hoiberg said Dunn didn’t lose any teeth but took a chunk out of the floor upon landing. He was evaluated for a concussion, with an update expected Thursday.
Surging rebuilding Bulls or not, there are still miles to go between these franchises.
“It’s not exactly like we’re winning because of some style or format,” Kerr said. “We’re winning because we have some of the best players in the world.
“The only way you can truly replicate what we have is to amass a ton of talent. That’s what (general manger) Bob Myers has done and why we’ve been able to accomplish what we have been able to over the last few years. The Bulls are on the right track.”
It just got derailed.
LaVine, in what is expected to be his last game with a 20-minute limit, missed 10 of 12 shots and scored five points. Two came on his first dunk as a Bull, a breakaway of the standard variety.
For the second time this season, Curry overwhelmed Dunn, this time to the tune of 30 points while Dunn battled early foul trouble and finished with 16. His personal-best streak of seven straight games with eight or more assists ended.
Klay Thompson scored a season-high 38 points and kick-started the carnage, burying three 3-pointers in the first 2 minutes, 1 second of the second half. Along with Curry scoring five points in 3:58, the Warriors turned a three-point halftime deficit into a quick double-digit lead.
“It’s as pure as any I’ve ever seen,” coach Fred Hoiberg said of Thompson’s shooting form. “He gets in that shooting pocket every single time. He has a consistent release point.”
The Bulls shot 6-for-25 in the third, at one point failing to score for 6:53 and missing 12 straight shots. At least they didn’t lose by 49, as they did when these teams last played in November.
David Nwaba, with strong defense on Curry in the fourth, helped the Bulls mount one last rally. But the Warriors are now 21-3 on the road.
“This is the game where it’s human nature to let your guard down,” Kerr said at the morning shootaround.
It didn’t happen. That’s the sign of a true champion.
Twitter @kcjhoop
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