Windy City Loses Third Straight to Agua Caliente, 103-92

[caption id="attachment_2954" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Photo by John L. Alexander/NBAE via Windy City Bulls[/caption]

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – The Windy City Bulls, presented by BMO Harris Bank, the NBA G League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, tied a season-high with their third consecutive loss in a 103-92 defeat to the Agua Caliente Clippers on Sunday night in Ontario, California.

Brandon Wood led all Windy City players with 25 points, one shy of his career-high. Mychal Mulder poured in 22 points, collected three steals and knocked down six three-pointers, while Jaylen Johnson nabbed his 13th double-double with a 10-point, 10 rebound performance. Antonio Blakeney registered his first sub 20-point game of the season and tallied 15 points on 4-of-18 shooting. Daniel Ochefu pitched in with 11 points and six rebounds after missing the previous game due to injury.

The start of the game was nip and tuck as neither team created separation. The opening 5:22 featured two ties and four lead changes. Johnson and Wood had the hot hand for Windy City, combining for 15 points in the first quarter. With under three minutes to play, the Clippers used a mini 5-0 run to take an 11-point lead. For the second time in two games, Windy City fell behind by double figures in the opening period. A couple baskets by Tyler Harris and Brandon Wood cut the lead to single digits and the Bulls trailed 35-27 at the end of the first quarter.

Four Agua Cliente players tallied double figures led by J.J. O’Brien who scored a game-high 32 points and added nine rebounds and six assists. Brice Johnson recorded his 10th double-double with 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Keith Steffeck scored 13 points. James Michael McAdoo, who recently joined the Clippers, added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.

To build on their first quarter success, Agua Caliente started the second quarter with an 8-3 run and led 43-30. Windy City responded with a run of their own and used back-to-back three-point shots and a Blakeney bucket to cut the lead to five. After falling behind by double-digits for the second time in the quarter, the Bulls made yet another run. Windy City used a 9-0 spurt including four consecutive free throws by Blakeney to pull within one. Agua Caliente scored the final points of the half on an O’Brien put back layup to give the Clippers a 50-47 lead at the intermission.

Agua Caliente scored five of the first six points of the third quarter, but Windy City responded with seven quick points of their own and tied the game at 55. With 7:06 to play, Mulder rattled home a three-pointer to give the Bulls a 60-58 advantage, their first lead since the score read 12-11 in favor of Windy City. Offense was scarce as both teams shot 40 percent in the third period, but the Clippers used an 8-0 run to retake the lead – this time for good. ACC outscored Windy City 27-23 and lead 77-70 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Windy City collected the momentum to start the final quarter. They scored eight quick points and two free throws by Wood made it a one-point score with nine minutes remaining. Windy City was unable to inch closer as Agua Caliente used a 13-2 run to take a 14-point lead, their largest of the night. With just over a minute to player the Bulls made it an eight-point game, but the Clippers walked away with their 15th win of the season.

Sunday night’s 11-point defeat is the first time this season the Bulls have lost back-to-back games by 10 points or more. Additionally, Windy City failed to reach the century mark, snapping a streak of 14 consecutive games in which they scored 100 points or more.

Windy City’s four-game road swing continues with a Wednesday night tilt with the Salt Lake City Stars. Tip-off is 8:00 p.m. CST at Lifetime Activities Center-Bruin Arena.

Fans can stay up-to-date on team news by following the team on Twitter (@WindyCityBulls) or visiting (WindyCityBulls.com). Full season membership, group, and single tickets for the 2017-18 Windy City Bulls season are on sale now. For all ticket information and full season schedule, visit WindyCityBulls.com.