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Nikola Vucevic · In a backcourt-based family battle that often made it difficult to take one’s eye off “the ball,” Nikola Vučević used January 17, 2025 to compile a box score that proved equally worthy of a double take. Dangerous, yet also still in search of night-by-night consistency, the Chicago Bulls found their mettle tested as they overcame multiple-double-digit deficits, including one that saw them behind by 14 in the final five minutes. Often the driving force in keeping Chicago afloat, the two-time All-Star put forth a masterclass in three-level scoring, as he deftly unleashed the arsenal that made him a double-digit scorer in each of the last 13 seasons. In between pick-and-pops, pick-and-rolls, and a buttery-soft touch along the perimeter, Vučević left the Charlotte Hornets picking their poisons in what became the fifth-highest scoring game of his career. Late-game execution would doom the Bulls’ chances at victory, but Vučević dominated nonetheless, totalling 40 points (on 17-of-25 shooting), alongside 13 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers. · State of Mint