Just three NBA games on Thurday’s slate but for Illinois purposes, it was a good one.
The only game featuring former Illinois prep athletes was the matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. Five players took the floor at the United Center during Illini Night. The evening saw two former Illinois stars in Ayo Dosunmu of the Chicago Bulls and Terrence Shannon Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Dosunmu got his third straight start of the season with Zach LaVine sidelined with a hip injury.
Shannon Jr. saw floor time for the third straight game after sitting for the first five games.
Chicago held leads over Minnesota after the first, second, and third quarter but collapsed in the final quarter. Timberwolves went on several deep scoring runs and wound up outscoring the Bulls in 45-24 and took the win 135-119.
Minnesota’s big late quarter lead open the door to open the bench for the Timberwolves. This gave TSJ an opportunity to show out a little bit in front of his hometown fans at the United Center.
November 7 Games
- Minnesota Timberwolves defeat Chicago Bulls, 135-119.
- Terrence Shannon Jr. (Lincoln Park) scored his first career NBA points against his hometown team.
- TSJ played just under two minutes but scored four points on 2-for-2 shooting with a steal and a -1 plus-minus.
- Terrence Shannon Jr. (Lincoln Park) scored his first career NBA points against his hometown team.
- Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park) got his third straight start.
- Dosunmu scored 13 points (5-11 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT), three rebounds (two offensive), two assists, a steal, a turnover, and a -20 plus-minus in 33 minutes of action.
- His -20 is a game-worst plus-minus.
- Dosunmu scored 13 points (5-11 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT), three rebounds (two offensive), two assists, a steal, a turnover, and a -20 plus-minus in 33 minutes of action.
- Matas Buzelis (Hinsdale Central) took a backseat compared to his last game but found himself doing more than just putting up points.
- Buzelis finished with two points (1-3 FG, 0-2 3PT), three rebounds (one offensive), two steals, two blocks, two turnovers, and a +2 plus-minus in 17 minutes.
- His two blocks were a game-high.
- Talen Horton-Tucker (Simeon) played 18 minutes off the bench in the loss but is starting to find a rhythm.
- THT scored 13 points (5-9 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1-2 FT) with five rebounds (one offensive), two assists, and a -6 plus-minus.
- Jevon Carter (Proviso East) granted an assist in his two minutes on the court and finished with a +1 plus-minus.
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