BOSTON — Kris Dunn is playing for the Chicago Bulls like the Kris Dunn that Providence College fans remember so fondly from his time with the Friars.
After an uneven rookie year with the Minnesota Timberwolves — leading some to snap judge him as a potential bust of a top-five draft pick — the New London, Conn., product may have caught an unexpected break when he was traded to the Bulls in a package for All-Star Jimmy Butler last summer.
The move gave Dunn a second chance to make a first impression with a team looking to utilize his strengths as opposed to one trying to pigeonhole him into a role.
“It’s a little more freedom,” he said in his return to New England before Saturday night’s game against the Celtics at TD Garden. “There were a lot of young guys over there in Minnesota where they were already established talent. Everybody on the team here has room to grow, to improve and develop their game.
“I’m happy to be a part of this team. The coaching staff has been phenomenal with me.”
Dunn said he was “kind of hurt” by the trade at first, but soon viewed it as an opportunity rather than a rejection.
“When I was in Minnesota, I really wasn’t playing (point guard),” he said. “I was playing it a little bit. Sometimes I was playing (shooting guard), going in the corner (behind the 3-point line). Coach (Fred) Hoiberg’s style is more my style as a fast pace, get in the lane, kicking the ball out to the shooters. It’s more the style that fits me better.”
Hoiberg said it’s the way Dunn has embraced that style that has been one of the big keys to Chicago’s turnaround from a disastrous start this season. The Bulls entered Saturday night as winners of seven of their last eight games after starting the year 3-20.
“Our pace has been really good,” Hoiberg said. “In our last 10 games we’re in the top five in pace, after being near the bottom for the first 15 to 20 games. We’re starting to understand it. And Kris Dunn’s been a big part of that.
“He’s really made a conscious effort throwing the ball ahead, and getting the ball down the floor, and flattening out the defense. We get something good, usually, when we get the ball advanced like that.”
Dunn averaged just 3.8 points per game last year with seven starts in 78 games. He shot 37.7 percent — including 28.8 percent on 3-pointers. This season, he entered Saturday averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 18 starts over 27 games, shooting 44.7 percent overall and 35.5 percent on 3-pointers.
After missing the first four games of the year due to a dislocated finger, he came off the bench in nine of his first 10 games before moving into the starting lineup. He came into Saturday’s game having scored in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games, and had at least five assists in 12 of 13 as well, including a 14-assist night against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
“That (injury) set him back a little bit,” Hoiberg said. “He’s gradually gotten back to where he is being the starter. And the more important role of being the closer. We’re all very confident in Kris.
“The biggest thing we talked about with him during that stretch is to make sure he went out and played consistently on both ends of the floor. Not have any lapses. That’s where he’s really grown as a player you can trust out there at the end of the game.”
Awaiting word
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he has not heard “confirmation either way” whether Marcus Morris (left knee soreness) will be cleared to return to the floor on Christmas Day against his twin brother, Markieff, and the Washington Wizards.
Morris said last week he was “really, really hoping” to be back for that game.
Around the rim
Jaylen Brown was back in the starting lineup for the Celtics on Saturday after sitting out Thursday’s game in New York with a sore Achilles. Shane Larkin (left knee soreness) was also available after being held out on Thursday. … Daniel Theis donned his new custom facemask to help protect his recently broken nose. While Theis said he is not a fan of wearing the mask in general, he said prior to the game he likes this one “a lot better” than the one he had been wearing.
-- ssouza@wickedlocal.com
On Twitter: @Scott_Souza