ORLANDO, Fla. — These were the type of physical teams that would make them flinch in previous seasons.
So when the Bulls found out last week that they would be without guard Coby White (right calf) for the start of the regular season, it appeared to be a recipe for disaster right out of the gate.
But after surprising the Pistons on opening night at the United Center, the Bulls went on the road and opened some more eyes with a 110-98 victory Saturday against the Magic.
“[Physical play has] been a big point of emphasis coming into the season,” guard Tre Jones said. “It’s been something we talked about a lot.
‘‘We did a lot of things well last year offensively, but defensively, one of the things [that needed to improve] was physicality. We’ve picked that up through these first couple of games, and now we’ve got to make it consistent.”
They did that in the fourth quarter against Orlando.
There was a lot for coach Billy Donovan to like, but giving the Magic a dose of their own medicine with a lockdown defensive effort in the fourth stood out. The Bulls used a mix of role players and starters to pull away in the quarter. They held the Magic to 18 points on 6-for-19 shooting (32%) and forced seven turnovers.
With starters Isaac Okoro and Matas Buzelis battling foul trouble, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter and Patrick Williams got heavy minutes.
“It wasn’t that we didn’t talk about the physicality [in the past],” Donovan said. “It was basically, ‘Listen, here’s what the numbers say; here’s where we’re at. I don’t care how hard you work, how much time you invest, if we do not do these things, we will not be able to compete against the better teams in the league.’
“So we had to make a choice. I don’t think I’m asking anybody to do anything they’re not capable of. I think we have a group of guys that care. At least I’m watching them physically try to compete. For us to take another step, this is what we have to do. It’s two games, so let’s just see what happens.”
The Bulls’ bench outscored the Magic’s 58-35, and Jones had five steals. Huerter had 11 points and seven rebounds and was a plus-14, and Williams had 12 points and was a plus-12.
The Bulls had seven players scoring in double figures.
“I think a lot of that is withstanding the physicality, but we’re also playing with so much pace, playing in transition, playing in the full court, and we’re not giving teams a chance to set up,” Huerter said. “If we continue to play at a good pace and continue moving guys in and out, I think we can wear teams down. Then that physicality [from opponents] in the halfcourt becomes tough to sustain.”