THE DRIVE FALL TO EDDIE POWERS AND THE BULLS
Jarrell Eddie scored 31 pints in just 21 minutes off the bench, making 8-of-10 three-pointers, and the Windy City Bulls (13-16) pulled away from the Drive (16-17) at home on Tuesday night by a 131-114 final.
The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for Grand Rapids. The Drive were within two at halftime and three at the beginning of the fourth quarter. But the Bulls poured in 47 points in the fourth quarter, the most the Drive have surrendered in a quarter this year, to pick up the win. It is the third win in a row for Windy City as they improve to 8-5 at home.
In addition to Eddie, Alfonzo McKinnie had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Windy City and Jake Layman had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists on assignment for the Portland Trail Blazers. Three other players scored in double figures for the Bulls as they employed a balanced scoring attack. Among them, Tim Quarterman approached a triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
It was not quite as balanced on the other end, as Jordan Crawford and Kevin Murphy scored prolifically for the Drive. Crawford had a game-high 35 points and Murphy 34 with eight rebounds, as no other Grand Rapids player scored over 11 points. Murphy and Crawford were efficient as well, combining to shoot over 50 percent both from the field and from three-point range.
In fact, both teams were on fire from deep as the Bulls shot 48 percent from three-point range and the Drive 46 percent. Windy City hit 23 three-pointers, the most the Drive have allowed all season on their way to the 131 points which was the second-largest total Grand Rapids has surrendered this season.
The two teams were still largely equal in terms of efficiency, but Windy City held big advantages in terms of ball movement. They recorded 37 assists to the Drive’s 15, as Grand Rapids likely felt the absence of point guard Ray McCallum, who recently signed with the Charlotte Hornets.
The Bulls’ next game is at home on Feb. 9 against Raptors 905. The Drive will not have to wait long for a chance to get back in the win column, as they host the Greensboro Hornets on Feb. 8.