Bulls' Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis starting to showcase hero mode

This was a glimpse of what it’s supposed to look like.

What it looked like when they ran together in a South Side summer Pro-Am, late-summer scrimmages, and intra-squad practices.

Rookie Caleb Wilson doing Caleb Wilson things, both above the rim and on the defensive end. Third-year forward Matas Buzelis trying to win a dunk contest against Knicks players, while continuing to find his three-point stroke that was on the side of a milk carton to start the regular season.

No, the Bulls didn’t beat the Knicks on Wednesday. A lesson to be learned for another day. But the two foundation pieces – and really the entire starting five – showed up, and Wilson and Buzelis showed out.

Wilson had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists in the loss to the defending champs, sitting second on the team in scoring with 20.8 points per game. Buzelis had 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and a nifty block, hitting 3-of-6 from three-point range and starting to find his outside rhythm now 5-of-10 the last two contests.

Who is Batman, which one is Robin? A debate that will eventually play out. Because if this Bulls rebuild is going to move forward like the new front office wants it to they will both need to play hero.

An idea that continues to bring a smile to Buzelis’ face when he discussed it post-Knicks loss.

“For sure that felt like the best we’ve showed out so far this season,” Buzelis said. “It’s a new team here and it’s tough. You gotta learn, see where guys are, but we’re slowly building, slowly building. Time will tell, you know, we’re going to be great. We work hard, we try to figure it out every day, and it’s only a matter of time before special comes.”

That was really displayed in the second quarter on a play in which Wilson delivered a nasty block, got out on the break with the ball, and threw a picture-perfect alley-oop to Buzelis for the slam.

The same Wilson that played center at North Carolina last season, rarely getting to display such passing talent.

“In just watching film, figure out where the low man is going to be at, and I feel like I’ve put myself at the top of every scouting report of every team we’re going to play, so just knowing that it is going to attract a lot of gravity and get my teammates open is something I’ve learned to accept and be mature enough to make the right decision,” Wilson said of his sudden ability to play-make. “I’ve been doing that for a minute. It just takes a minute to get calm and adjusted to the NBA. I feel like there’s a lot of things that change throughout the season. My three-point shooting, my ability to create for others, just me getting comfortable. It’s my first year and obviously I have a lot of expectations put on me from other people so I’m just trying to manage that.”

If that’s “managing” it, yikes.

Not that Buzelis was surprised. He sees his rookie teammate evolving each day.

“That’s what I envision us looking like,” Buzelis said. “That’s how you’re supposed to play. That’s what happens when you work hard and try to figure out what you need to do in order to be a successful team.”

Now can the two replicate that against a Boston team that just ran them out of the Garden at the start of this week? That’s the next test: Going from nail to hammer.

“Matas is my guy, off the court and on the court, I love playing with him,” Wilson added. “He had a great game (against the Knicks) and I’m excited to see him keep flourishing. I want to connect with him on a bunch more lobs, both ways. I just feel like it’s a step in the right direction. I know Coach (Tiago Splitter) said there’s no moral victories, but I feel like we’re definitely moving the right way.”