Bulls star Zach LaVine has always been a confident player. His explosive and high flying play-style is in your face and entertaining. On Thursday night against the Knicks, LaVine was upfront with ESPN analyst, Stephen A. Smith.

Prior to the game, LaVine walked up to Smith and told him that a Knicks’ win wasn’t happening.

“I know you want us to lose tonight but it ain’t happening.” -Zach LaVine to Stephen A. Smith

This game marked the first time since 2013 that both the Bulls and Knicks met at least 20 games into the season with a winning, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Stephen A. Smith has been complimentary of LaVine in the past. Although he was critical of the fit for the Bulls stars, he witnessed firsthand the damage both can do offensively.

Bulls’ Big 3 Showed Out

Despite blowing a lead that was at one point as high as 21, the trio of DeRozan, Vucevic, and LaVine combined for 88 points. LaVine alone scored 27 in the Bulls’ 119-115 win over the Knicks.

DeRozan and LaVine taking over ♨️ pic.twitter.com/T8fBN1phnL

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 3, 2021

Vucevic contributed a huge 27 as well after struggling to get his offense going the past few games since returning from COVID protocol. It was LaVine and DeRozan that really got it going in the fourth quarter to prevent an epic 20 point collapse.

After falling behind by 21 in the game, the Knicks came roaring back in the third quarter. New York opened the third quarter on a 27-10 run and cut the lead to 79-78. It was the tough shot-making of LaVine and DeRozan that kept disaster from striking.

DeRozan scored a game-high 18 fourth-quarter points including the Bulls’ final eight points.

Fourth Quarter Heroics

This story isn’t new to the Bulls though. DeRozan and LaVine hit tough shots. The Bulls escape after a tough fourth quarter. Both DeRozan and LaVine rank first and third in the NBA this season in fourth-quarter points.

NBA 4th-quarter scoring:

DeMar DeRozan 165 pts
Jayson Tatum 143 pts
Zach LaVine 142 pts

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 3, 2021

In the immediate, the tandem of LaVine and DeRozan has been entertaining through the first quarter of the season. The downfall to the isolation diet this team is being fed is that sooner or later half-court defenses will adjust.

Sooner or later, the well will dry up.