Klay Thompson had 20 points and hit two critical free throws with 6.7 seconds left as the visiting Dallas Mavericks took down the host Chicago Bulls 120-119 on Saturday night. Dallas (37-38) has won four of its last five games and is ninth in the Western Conference, which would qualify for the play-in tournament.
The Mavericks are also 4-0 when Anthony Davis plays. Davis was 7 of 23 from the floor Saturday and finished with 18 points in 30 minutes. Chicago fans were hoping for another miracle finish after the Bulls' dramatic win over the Lakers on Thursday.
The Bulls were down 12 with 2:52 left on Saturday and got to 118-116 when Nikola Vucevic split a pair of free throws with 8.6 seconds left, but the Mavericks inbounded the ball to Thompson, who was fouled and calmly made both free throws. Vucevic sank a 3-pointer with 0.
9 seconds left for the final margin. Seven Mavericks players scored in double figures, among them P.J.
Washington with 19 points and Kai Jones 15. Despite the loss, the Bulls (33-41) are still comfortably in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Rookie Matas Buzelis led Chicago with 28 points.
Coby White and Vucevic each had 25. The first and second quarters played out in similar fashion. The Bulls went on a run to take a modest lead, only for the Mavericks to rally back and reclaim it.
Chicago led by three with just over five minutes left in the first quarter after a lay-in by Buzelis, and then the Mavericks caught fire. Washington made a driving layu.
