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DeMar DeRozan stays hot, breaks Wilt Chamberlain's mark in win

DeMar DeRozan became the 1st player in NBA history to score 35 or more points and shoot 50% or better in 7 straight games.

DeMar DeRozan continues his streak of 30+ point games with 38 points in the win over the Kings.

DeMar DeRozan has done something not even the revered Michael Jordan ever did in Chicago.

DeRozan finished with 38 points on 16-for-27 shooting in Wednesday’s 125-118 win against the Sacramento Kings and, in doing so, pushed past Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books. DeRozan became the first player in NBA history to score 35 or more points and shoot 50% or better in seven consecutive games. Chamberlain did it in six straight twice — during the 1960-61 and 1962-63 seasons.

Jordan, the Bulls’ all-time leader in just about every major statistical category, still holds the franchise record for most consecutive games with 35 or more points at 10. However, in ringing up 35 or more points for the seventh straight game, DeRozan has tied Jordan for the second-longest such streak in franchise history .

Most consecutive games with 35+ pts, Bulls history
Player Year Streak
Michael Jordan 1986 10
Michael Jordan 1988 7
DeMar DeRozan 2022 7 (active streak)
Michael Jordan 1987 5
Michael Jordan 1995 5

It was also DeRozan’s eighth game in a row with 30 or more points overall, marking the longest such streak by a Bulls player since Jordan did (eight straight in January 1996).

DeRozan had difficulty describing just how locked in he is. And when it came to the record, he was “speechless.”

“As a kid, as a fan of the history of the game, being in the league as long as I’ve been in this league — things like that continue to make me even more humble,” he said. “Being an NBA player and being able to have the privilege to be able to play this long and have these opportunities, man, it’s something I never take for granted. And the crazy thing is I felt like I missed eight easy shots I normally would have made.”

Bulls star DeMar DeRozan has found a rhythm and system on offense in Chicago that is playing to his strengths.

DeRozan hit the 30-point mark when he nailed a 15-footer off a crossover to make it 107-98 with 7:10 left. And he made several big shots down the stretch.

DeRozan hit a 3 with about 5:15 left after Sacramento pulled within two. He also converted a three-point play to bump the lead to 115-109 with 3:51 remaining, and the Bulls remained in control the rest of the way.

In some news apart from DeRozan’s performance, the Bulls are also about to sign Tristan Thompson. Following Indiana’s win against the Washington Wizards, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told reporters the Pacers will soon waive Thompson — who will then sign with Chicago.

DeMar DeRozan talks after Chicago's win about his string of 35-point games.

“He’ll be joining a contending team in the East — a little bit north if anybody wants to tweet, starts with a C and ends with an O,” Carlisle said Wednesday night.

In case there was any doubt, Carlisle clarified: “Chicago, if anybody didn’t get that.”

For his part, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said he had not heard “anything along the lines of that happening” and said it was “the first I’m hearing of it.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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