LaVine explains last-second blunder: I was trying to get a 3-point play

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine explained his decision to take a mid-range jumper while trailing by three points in the final seconds of a 100-97 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

LaVine believed he was fouled and was hoping to create an opportunity for a 3-point play.

"We were just trying to get a three off. And then when I went in to go pull up, I think it was Delon Wright (who) fouled me. So, my instinct is just to go up and try to get a 3-point play," LaVine said postgame, per The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry.

"I was going for a pull-up when he fouled me. I shot it. They didn't call it. And that's how it is."

LaVine missed the shot, which was well inside the 3-point line, with teammate Alex Caruso open behind the arc after Wizards guard Wright left him to help on LaVine.

Reporters pointed out to LaVine that the Wizards had a foul to give, so Wright may have been trying to intentionally foul LaVine to reset the play. The Bulls star said Wright told him after the game that was indeed the case.

LaVine added that official Rodney Mott admitted to him that he missed the call.

Just one possession earlier, LaVine knocked down a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer to beat the shot clock and tie the game at 97. Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma then scored a triple of his own to regain the lead, setting up the final sequence.

LaVine finished the contest with 38 points on 15-of-28 shooting in the absence of co-star DeMar DeRozan, who missed out with a quad injury.