Chicago Bulls rookie forward Caleb Wilson overcame a shaky debut this week with a 21-point, six-rebound effort to help key Friday’s come-from-behind victory in Milwaukee.
As the Bulls prepare to face the Washington Wizards in Chicago’s home opener on Saturday night, Wilson is eager to keep building — and working.
“I mean, I feel like I’m built for the moment, so whenever I get that chance, I’m going to go out there and show what I can do,” he said on Friday. “It’s a great opportunity, but we play again tomorrow, so I’m already on to the next.”
After absorbing a 43-point blowout against host Toronto on opening night Wednesday in a game in which Wilson went only 7 of 21 from the field and finished with 16 points, the Bulls recovered from an early double-digit deficit in Milwaukee to prevail 132-125.
Offseason addition Norman Powell paced Chicago with 25 points, while Jalen Smith notched a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double.
The Bulls received four double-digit scoring efforts from their bench, with Leonard Miller leading the way with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field.
Reserve Noa Essengue had three steals and has shown an early penchant for adapting to first-year coach Tiago Splitter’s aggressive defensive style.
“He’s another player. He just goes hard every possession, wants to guard the best player on the other team, can slide his feet in front of other people,” Splitter said. “He’s long. His arms create so many deflections. He’s been outstanding.”
Washington has matched Chicago’s results in the first two games of the season, albeit in different order. Anthony Davis’ dazzling team debut (34 points, 12 rebounds) keyed a 128-116 victory against Milwaukee on Wednesday, but the Wizards couldn’t sustain the momentum Friday in a 112-102 home loss to Toronto.
While the Wizards whittled a 17-point, second-quarter deficit to one point in the third, they couldn’t compensate for the Raptors’ staunch defense.
After forcing the Bulls into 27 turnovers on Wednesday, Toronto led Washington into committing 23 on Friday night. Trae Young kept the Wizards afloat with a 22-point, 12-assist double-double but also had four turnovers, one of three Washington players with at least that many.
Kyshawn George had a team-high eight turnovers for the Wizards.
“Playing in crowds a little bit too much,” Washington coach Brian Keefe said. “This is kind of what [Toronto] does. This is a good lesson for us. We’re going to learn a lot from this game, but he’ll bounce back.”
Davis scored just nine points to go with nine rebounds. Teammate Tre Johnson added 20 points off the bench, including a 4-for-8 showing from long range.
Washington’s AJ Dybantsa, the first overall pick in the NBA Draft in June, remained sidelined with a left ankle sprain he sustained in the team’s final exhibition game. Keefe said before the Toronto game that Dybantsa is “progressing.”
