Nam Y. Huh/AP
The was a skip in DeMar DeRozan’s step, and a scowl on his face.
With 1:27 left in the second overtime against Minnesota on Friday, the veteran had just nailed a tough 13-footer to stretch the lead to five.
He couldn’t help but show the emotion.
Finally, some breathing room in a season where the Bulls and DeRozan have far too often felt like they were suffocating.
Thanks to DeRozan’s game-high 49 points, the Bulls (32-37) outlasted the Timberwolves 139-131, keeping their Eastern Conference play-in hopes alive and well, retaking the 10th and final spot from idle Indiana.