Coby White electrified the crowd with his dazzling moves throughout the game, earning cheers and chants from the fans as the thrilling matchup came to a close. It was an unforgettable night for both White and the Chicago Bulls.
White achieved a career milestone by scoring a remarkable 42 points, propelling the Bulls to a resounding 131-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament on Wednesday.
This stellar performance marked a new peak for White, surpassing his previous best of 37 points in both regular season and postseason games. It served as a standout moment in his breakout season.
Reflecting on his achievement, White expressed his gratitude towards the fans, stating, “It was amazing for that to happen. I appreciate the fans. The atmosphere felt like the playoffs. The arena was electric tonight.”
Looking ahead, the Bulls will square off against the Miami Heat on Friday, vying for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and the opportunity to face the Boston Celtics in the first round. Miami narrowly lost a close game to the Philadelphia 76ers, 105-104, earlier in the week.
Dejounte Murray led the Atlanta Hawks with an impressive 30 points, yet the team fell short once again, extending their losing streak to six games to close out the regular season.
Nikola Vucevic made a significant impact for the Chicago Bulls with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan contributed 22 points along with nine assists. Ayo Dosunmu, returning from a four-game absence due to injury, added 19 points to the Bulls’ tally.
However, it was Coby White who truly stole the spotlight, relentlessly attacking the basket and converting 15 of 21 field goals. In addition to his scoring prowess, White grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists.
Murray commended White’s work ethic and character, expressing admiration for his dedication both on and off the court. He believes White has always possessed potential and now has the chance to truly shine.