On March 21, the Chicago Bulls (42-29) defeated the Toronto Raptors (40-32) 113-99 at the United Center.
DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine each scored 26 points and Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Bulls ended a three-game losing streak and remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, ESPN noted. The Bulls are hoping to move up in the standings and have the home edge in at least the first round of the playoffs.
The Raptors, who had won six of seven heading into the game, remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Chicago forward Patrick Williams returned to the court for the first time since Oct. 28 after undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left wrist.
The Bulls next play at the Milwaukee Bucks tonight.
The Chicago Blackhawks parted with another fan and locker-room favorite hours ahead of the March 21 trade deadline, sending veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, 37, to the Minnesota Wild three days after they shipped winger Brandon Hagel, 23, to the Tampa Bay Lightning, The Chicago Tribune reported.
"I'm really happy with how it went," Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said at Fifth Third Arena after the deadline. "You don't know how these things are going to play out."
In return for Fleury, the Hawks received a 2022 second-round pick that can be a first-rounder if Fleury wins at least four playoff games for the Wild and they advance to the Western Conference finals.
Also, Calgary Flames General Manager Brad Treliving confirmed the team acquired fourth-line forward and penalty killer Ryan Carpenter from the Hawks for a 2024 fifth-round pick.