Zach LaVine scores 36 points, but Bulls can’t keep pace with Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — Zach LaVine had 36 points, five rebounds and five assists, but it wasn’t enough for the Bulls on Wednesday night.

Another healthy body sure helped the Golden State Warriors, especially when that guy coming back was Draymond Green — an emotional, vocal leader of this young group who brings it on both ends.

Eric Paschall scored 25 points and the Warriors emphatically closed out a tight game after their failure two days earlier, holding off the Bulls 104-90 on Wednesday night for just their second win at new Chase Center.

“The names maybe have changed but their spirit, their soul and the way they play, the way they compete I don’t think has changed at all,” Bulls coach Jim Boylen said of the Warriors: “So give them a lot of credit for that.”

Having Green back was certainly a lift.

”He settled us down,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Having nine instead of eight, it matters. You just have more to work with and more options.”

The latest injury news for the Warriors involved their coach. Kerr cut his right hand breaking a clipboard. It happens at least once a season.

”It’s a mere flesh wound. I broke a clipboard. It’s one of two. I’m allotted two a year. This was No. 1,” Kerr said. “It always cuts in the same place. This was a little deeper one, I was a little more upset. I’m day to day. No stitches yet but we’ll see tomorrow.”

Blood on the clipboard told players their coach was hurt.

”He’s writing a play up and he’s actively wiping blood up off the clipboard,” Omari Spellman said.

Alec Burks added 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in just the second win in 12 games for Golden State, which squandered a late lead Monday night in losing 100-97 to Oklahoma City while allowing the Thunder to score the game’s final 13 points. The Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak.

Green returned from a three-game absence because of a sore right heel and contributed seven points, eight assists and five rebounds in nearly 24 minutes.

The Bulls now will try to avenge a 117-94 home loss to the Trail Blazers on Monday night when they travel to Portland to play Friday.

Golden State struggled to take care of the ball or make stops down the stretch against Oklahoma City, then worked to be the aggressor in this game. The Warriors jumped in the passing lanes on defense to create transition baskets and plays like Paschall’s timely dunk that put his team ahead 88-83 with 5:17 remaining.

The Bulls shot 16 for 44 in the first half to trail 53-48 at the break. Spellman wound up with 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench for his fifth career double-double and first with the Warriors.

”I’m just happy to bring the energy for this team,” he said.

Bulls forward Chandler Hutchison, sidelined for two games last week with soreness in his shins, was in the starting lineup but played only two minutes, not a great sign one game after he came back to score six points and grab three rebounds in seven minutes late in the loss to Portland.

Bulls forward Luke Kornet played 10 minutes in his return from an eight-game absence after sinus surgery.