It has become a habit for Zach LaVine to make opposing defenders look silly. On Friday night, the Washington Wizards were the latest roster to fall victim to the Chicago Bulls guard. They couldn’t really help it. Once LaVine put the ball on the floor and ducked downhill, there was no stopping what came next. The guard wove between defenders, tipped the ball from one hand to another, hovered above the rim, hopped backward to sling 3-pointers. It wasn’t his highest scoring game as a Bull — not by a long shot. But with 33 points in 33 minutes, it marked LaVine’s fifth consecutive game scoring at least 30 points. It’s the longest such streak of his career and is one of only three in the NBA this season. In the locker room after the win, however, LaVine wasn’t even aware of the milestone. He showed confusion when Coby White attempted to congratulate him, earning a teasing question: “Have you not checked Twitter, bro?” LaVine isn’t trying to be the hero this season. He openly embraced the fact he might never score 40 points in this year’s offense, which is more open and balanced than in any of his past years with the Bulls. Heroism, instead, has been replaced with consistent excellence. Averaging 23.3 points on 51.4% shooting from the floor and 44.4% from 3-point range, LaVine is scoring with ease — although he wants to be clear: It just looks that way. “It’s never easy,” LaVine said. “But you put the work in, you get into rhythms and you continue to work on the things that you do. In practice, it becomes almost like muscle memory. I’ve always been one of those players where when I get into rhythm, it feels pretty much like — not going through the motions, but it’s like I’ve done it before.” Here are four takeaways from the win. 1. Nikola Vučević racked up another double-double. Consistency is the key for both of the Bulls’ veteran stars — a fact that center Vučević proved with a 23-point, 13-rebound performance. Vučević provided balance for the offense, passing up opportunities in the post to feed his teammates at the arc. This was a team effort by the Bulls, who recorded 39 assists on 53 baskets in the win. It was Vučević’s 182nd double-double with the Bulls, surpassing Michael Jordan (180). Only four players in team history have recorded more: Artis Gilmore, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Joakim Noah. 2. Lonzo Ball picked pockets. Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (2) steals the ball on a pass intended for Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first half on Jan. 10, 2025, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) On the defensive end of the court, Ball is building his own streak — six straight games with at least two steals. The guard has quickly resumed his characteristic sharpness on defense even with his playing time capped at 25 minutes per game. Ball leads the Bulls in steals per game (1.5) and has recorded the fourth-most steals on the team this season despite playing the 12th-most minutes. And Ball’s impact wasn’t restricted to disrupting the Wizards defensively. He showcased a clear return to comfort in his 3-point shot after struggling for weeks through discomfort from a right wrist sprain, sinking four 3-pointers and finishing with 12 points. 3. Patrick Williams couldn’t be found. In a game highlighted by strong performances up and down the bench, Williams faded from view once again. Every other starter besides Williams scored in double digits, but the forward couldn’t find his shot. He finished 1-for-8 from the floor and missed all four of his 3-point attempts, finishing with only two points despite a lackluster showing from the Wizards defense. But it’s not just the shooting. A poor night from 3-point range can’t fully encapsulate what’s wrong with Williams. Photos: Chicago Bulls 138, Washington Wizards 105 In his fifth year with the Bulls, he still isn’t seeing the game at full speed. He attempted to feed LaVine in transition after stealing the ball in the second quarter — only to chuck his pass directly into the hands of Bilal Coulibaly. He stuttered with the ball in his hands at the top of the arc. When he did attack the rim, Williams fumbled his drives as the ball bumbled off his palms and stomach and shoe before he reached the rim. And Williams still isn’t asserting himself on the glass. He had only three rebounds, fewer than guards LaVine, Coby White and Josh Giddey. Blame it on hesitancy or a lack of aggression — it doesn’t matter. Williams still isn’t showing up for the Bulls. 4. Eastern Conference standings look-in. The Bulls are never going to complain about a Friday night win at the United Center — especially after they improved to 8-11 at home after struggling to win on their court in the early months of the season. But every result matters more in this monthlong stretch to the All-Star break. With the win, the Bulls (18-20) are two games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers (15-21) for the final play-in spot in the East. As the Brooklyn Nets slip lower in the standings, it appears the 76ers will spend the rest of the season duking it out with the Bulls — along with the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat — for positioning in the play-in tournament.