EditorsNote: Fixed LaVine's points at half in 8th graf
Zach LaVine scored 25 points and the Chicago Bulls posted their first three-game winning streak of the season by defeating the host Charlotte Hornets 123-110 on Friday night.
Lauri Markkanen poured in 23 points for the Bulls, who shot 51.6 percent from the field. Markkanen was 10-for-17 and LaVine 8-for-12. LaVine, who entered the game averaging 27.4 points, made all six of his foul shots.
Bulls guard Coby White, who was held scoreless Sunday at Dallas and then shot 4-for-12 in a 10-point outing the next day at Houston, made a 3-pointer on his first attempt Friday on his way to 18 points in a return to his home state.
Gordon Hayward posted 34 points and Devonte' Graham scored a season-high 24 points for the Hornets, who hadn't played since Saturday. Charlotte lost its fourth game in a row.
P.J. Washington added 16 points and Terry Rozier had 10 points for Charlotte, which couldn't overcome 20 turnovers -- all within the first three quarters.
Both teams had longer-than-usual layoffs, with Charlotte's gap caused by the postponement of a scheduled Wednesday game vs. Washington due to the Wizards' coronavirus issues.
Bulls reserves notched 46 points, led by Garrett Temple's 15 and Otto Porter Jr.'s 13.
Chicago led 61-53 at halftime, aided by LaVine's 15 points and the team's 38-16 edge in points in the paint. Graham had 22 points in the first half, but backcourt mate Rozier was scoreless.
The Hornets trailed 95-83 going into the final quarter. Hayward's 17 third-quarter points helped Charlotte stay within range.
Charlotte was within 103-97 before Markkanen's 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter. That came when the Hornets went into a stretch of 0-for-7 shooting from the field.
Chicago was without starting post player Wendell Carter Jr. because of a thigh bruise.
Hornets center Cody Zeller played for the first time since the opener, when he sustained a broken hand. He scored five points in 11 minutes off the bench.
--Field Level Media
