Bulls Summer League: Dalen Terry’s stands out in win vs. Hornets

Dalen Terry’s competitiveness and versatility popped throughout the Chicago Bulls’ 89-73 Summer League victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

It started with an especially notable first-quarter sequence.

First, the Bulls’ rookie drove Bryce McGowens for a layup out of a timeout. The next time down the floor, he stonewalled a McGowens drive, which sparked a transition opportunity he capped by sprinting hard for a layup. Then, he deployed a timely trap on Hornets guard LJ Figueroa, forcing a backcourt violation.

It was a telling snapshot of the way Terry’s activity can affect games.

Dalen doing work on both ends!@DalenTerry | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/DOpsuYPkpZ

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 14, 2022

Terry, in fact, appeared to take all of his individual matchups with McGowens to heart. The Nebraska star who was drafted 40th overall by Charlotte shot 1-for-8 from the field in the first half and 4-for-18 for the contest.

Not all of those misses were forced by Terry, of course. But he was an agent of defensive chaos all game, pestering ball-handlers, deflecting countless passes, and even flying in from behind to break up an alley-oop attempt to the high-flying Mark Williams in the second quarter.

In all, Terry stuffed the stat sheet in his fourth Summer League outing with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and a block and assist a piece.

Those points came on 8-for-12 shooting, and a nod to prudent selection on slashes to the basket. He also buried both of his 3-point attempts in the game — one a rim-in from the top of the key, the other a catch-and-shoot swish from the corner — to move his Summer League line to 3-for-7 (42.9 percent) from long range.

Enough to assuage pre-draft questions about his outside shot? Well But a good sign nonetheless.

It was Terry’s strongest all-around Summer League showing to date, an entertaining showcase of his energy and feel for the game, and an example of game-over-game improvement.

Best of the rest

• Since posting a 27-point, 13-rebound double-double in the Bulls’ Summer League opener, Marko Simonovic he accrued just 8 points and 10 rebounds in his last two games combined. But the second-year big man bounced back with 17 points and 13 rebounds in this one, showcasing activity on the offensive glass and even some pizzazz by way of this no-look, behind-the-back transition dime in the third quarter — the prettiest of his four assists:

Marko with the behind-the-back dime!@MSimonovic99 | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/giJGRRKGiw

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 14, 2022

• Despite a loud, last-minute poster dunk, Justin Lewis’ offensive output (6 points, 2-for-7 shooting) was nothing to write home about. But he dazzled at the defensive end. The best sequence was a 32-second stretch in the third quarter when he blocked back-to-back dunk attempts by Williams. That’s no small feat.
• Malcolm Hill’s bid for the Bulls’ second two-way slot continues in earnest. He posted 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks, including this resounding swat of McGowens.

SWAT TEAM.@MalcolmIllini21 | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/oBy80HuEYH

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 14, 2022

The Summer League Bulls moved to 3-1 with the result. Their fifth and final game has yet to be scheduled.

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