Tag: Chicago Bulls

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Jordan Poole returns as Wizards secure win over Bulls

Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls

Jordan Poole scored 30 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 125-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

Poole returned to the Wizards lineup after missing the last two games due to a hip injury. He shot 10 of 21 from the field, including making six 3-pointers.

Justin Champagnie added 15 points, and Carlton Carrington contributed 11 points, making all three of his 3-point attempts, helping Washington earn its third win in the last seven games. While this might not be a great stretch for most teams, the Wizards have only won six games this season and were just coming off a 16-game losing streak that left them with a 2-18 record after 20 games.

Chicago’s Zach LaVine led all scorers with 32 points, shooting 12 of 20 from the field. Coby White scored 17 points, and Nikola Vucevic had 12 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

New York Knicks and Washington Wizards

Kyshawn George hit a 3-pointer to extend the Wizards’ lead to 16 points, 100-84, with 10:20 left in the game. George then dunked to push the lead to 20 points, capping a 13-4 Wizards run that helped seal the win early in the fourth quarter.

Washington led by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, but the Bulls closed the half with a 12-5 run to cut the Wizards’ lead to four points, 55-51, at halftime. Poole led Washington with 12 points in the first half, while LaVine had 15 points to lead Chicago.

Washington shot 49.5 percent (49 of 99) from the field, including 17 of 36 (47.2 percent) from 3-point range. Chicago made 41 of 92 attempts (44.6 percent) from the field and shot 29.8 percent (14 of 47) from beyond the arc. The Bulls outrebounded the Wizards 44-42 but committed 20 turnovers, which led to Washington outscoring them 33-11 in points off turnovers.

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NBA (Basketball)

Bulls aim to extend strong play into 2025 with a road game against the last-place Wizards

Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks

The Chicago Bulls are aiming for their third straight win as they head to Washington to face the struggling Wizards on Wednesday.

The Bulls are coming off a 115-108 overtime victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Coby White led the charge with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, helping the Bulls outscore Charlotte 17-10 in overtime after the Hornets hit a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.

Zach LaVine, who missed Monday’s win due to a toe injury, is the team’s top scorer with 22 points per game and is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game.

The Bulls’ previous win came on Saturday, when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 116-111 in a thrilling game at home. White hit a go-ahead jumper with 31 seconds left, and the Bulls sealed the win with free throws.

White has been a key contributor, averaging 18 points per game this season, after posting a career-high 19.1 points per game last year.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan praised White’s development, saying his ability to impact games in different ways has been key to his growth.

“His defense has gotten better. He finds ways to rebound, come up with loose basketballs, get assists. He’s doing a lot of different things,” Donovan said.

Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards

Nikola Vucevic has been consistent for the Bulls, averaging 20.6 points and 10 rebounds per game.

The Wizards, on the other hand, are struggling, having lost their last two games to the New York Knicks. They fell 136-132 in overtime on Saturday and 126-106 on Monday.

In Saturday’s game, Justin Champagnie scored a career-high 31 points, but the Wizards couldn’t stop Jalen Brunson’s 55-point performance.

On Monday, the Wizards’ offense was more in line with their season’s struggles, with Jonas Valanciunas leading the way with 22 points off the bench. Only two starters, Alexandre Sarr and Malcolm Brogdon, scored in double figures.

Jordan Poole, the Wizards’ top scorer with 21.3 points per game, missed the last two games due to a hip injury. He is listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game. Kyle Kuzma returned to the lineup on Monday after missing time with a rib injury, scoring 9 points in 21 minutes.

“We need everybody,” Valanciunas said. “It’s good to see Kuzma back and hopefully, he’s not going to go down again.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Bucks aim for another win over Bulls despite missing key stars

Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)

The Chicago Bulls, currently on a three-game losing streak, will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday for their second meeting in six days.

Milwaukee returns to Chicago after beating the Bulls 112-91 on Monday, even without All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton stepped up, each scoring 21 points in place of the injured Antetokounmpo.

Once again, Antetokounmpo and Lillard were absent in Thursday’s 111-105 loss to Brooklyn. Lillard has missed the last four games with a calf injury and an illness.

“Ain’t no excuses,” Bobby Portis said after Thursday’s game. “We lost, they won, we move on Saturday. Get a win, feel good, go into Indiana (and) the new year. That’s it.”

The Bucks have two games left in 2024: Saturday in Chicago and Tuesday in Indiana. Their season has had ups and downs, including a seven-game win streak from Nov. 18 to Dec. 3, after a rough 2-8 start.

Antetokounmpo leads the league with 32.7 points per game, and Lillard averages 25.7 points and 7.5 assists. But the Bucks are only three games above .500 and rank mid-to-lower in various team stats. Their scoring is down, averaging 112.5 points per game, which is 16th in the league and 6.5 points less than last season.

Milwaukee’s scoring defense has improved, allowing 111.2 points per game, down from 116.4 last year.

Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards

In Monday’s win over Chicago, the Bucks had one of their best defensive games, holding the Bulls to 91 points on 36-of-90 shooting (40%) and 10-of-48 (20.8%) from three, while forcing 15 turnovers.

Chicago, despite Monday’s loss, averages 117.7 points per game, sixth in the NBA. Their top scorers are Zach LaVine (22.3 ppg), Nikola Vucevic (20.7), and Coby White (17.7). But the Bulls have struggled defensively, sitting five games under .500. They’ve allowed the second-most points in the league at 121.8 per game.

Chicago had a tough fourth quarter in their 141-133 loss to Atlanta on Thursday, giving up 50 points and losing a 17-point lead.

“We’re going to have to look at that and figure out what we need to do to weather the storm,” said LaVine, who scored a season-high 37 points in the loss. “That just can’t happen. It’s unacceptable.”

A possible boost for the Bulls could be the return of Josh Giddey, who has missed the last four games due to an ankle injury. He’s averaging 11.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and a team-high 6.9 assists.

“A lot is going to depend on how he responds (after a workout Thursday) and then probably get another one in (on Friday),” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said about Giddey’s potential return.

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Hawks surge with 50-point fourth quarter to defeat Bulls

Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls

Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 30 points, including the go-ahead basket late in the fourth quarter, to help the Atlanta Hawks overcome a 21-point deficit and beat the Chicago Bulls 141-133 on Thursday.

Johnson contributed 11 of Atlanta’s 50 points in the fourth quarter, and his basket with 2:44 left gave the Hawks the lead for good. It was the highest-scoring fourth quarter by any NBA team this season.

Atlanta was down 108-87 with 1:12 remaining in the third quarter and trailed by 17 going into the fourth.

Johnson made 11 of 16 field goals and added 15 rebounds and four assists. Trae Young scored 27 points, with 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter, along with 13 assists. He hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 126-126 with 3:03 left. De’Andre Hunter added 25 points off the bench for Atlanta.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with a season-high 37 points, scoring 22 of them in the third quarter, and also had seven assists. It was the second time this season LaVine had over 30 points and more than five assists. Jevon Carter scored a season-high 26 points, and Coby White added 23 points and nine assists for Chicago.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jalen Johnson in the 2nd half

The Bulls made 22 of 43 3-point attempts (51.2 percent), marking their 31st straight game with at least 10 successful 3-pointers, extending the longest such streak in team history.

Atlanta started well, picking up where they left off after a 13-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, leading 9-2. But the Bulls began hitting 3-pointers and took control, leading 33-21 after the first quarter. Carter led the charge with six 3-pointers and 19 points in the opening quarter.

Chicago extended the lead to 16 points with a basket from Jalen Smith, and despite a surge from the Hawks, including 10 points from Larry Nance Jr., the Bulls led 64-53 at halftime.

Atlanta cut the deficit to five points after Hunter’s three-point play with 3:52 left in the third, but the Bulls responded with a 16-0 run to take a 21-point lead. Chicago scored 44 points in the third quarter and led 108-91 heading into the fourth.

The Bulls were missing key players: Josh Giddey (ankle), Ayo Dosunmu (Achilles), and Lonzo Ball (illness). Atlanta was also without Bogdan Bogdanovic (leg) and Onyeka Okongwu (knee).

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NBA (Basketball)

The Hawks are looking to change their recent track record against the Bulls

Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls

The Atlanta Hawks will aim to end their losing streak against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday when the teams meet for the third time this season.

The Bulls have won the first two matchups — 125-113 in Atlanta on Nov. 9 and 136-122 in Chicago on Nov. 22. Chicago has also won the last three games played in Atlanta.

Both teams are struggling through the holiday season. Atlanta has won six of its last 10 games, including a 117-104 win over Minnesota on Monday, which ended a three-game losing streak. Chicago is 5-5 in its last 10 games and coming off a 112-91 loss to Milwaukee on Monday.

“(Monday) was a good turnaround,” said Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels. “We have to defend. Defense is a must, and we came locked in for four quarters. The season is going by pretty quick. We’ve played 30 games already and our bodies are feeling pretty good. We need to push our record, get a few more wins on the board.”

Daniels, who was acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in the offseason, has been a pleasant surprise for the Hawks. The Australian, known as “The Great Barrier Thief,” leads the NBA with 3.2 steals per game and had eight steals in the win over the Timberwolves. He also averages 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

“It’s just about reading the game, knowing where the ball is going to go and then hacking,” Daniels said. “I just be hacking.”

The Hawks also benefited from the return of Trae Young, who missed the previous game against Memphis with a bruised heel. Young scored 10 of his 29 points against Minnesota in the first quarter. The Hawks have struggled to manage the offense without him, as he leads the league with 12.0 assists per game.

Trae Young shoots in the 1st half

“We wanted to come out with a different energy, different attitude,” Young said.

The Bulls are second in the NBA for 3-point shooting attempts, averaging 44.0 per game. They have made 36.3% of them, but Coby White has struggled, shooting just 27.8% (20-for-72) from 3-point range over the past nine games.

“I get cold, but I ain’t never got cold like this, for as many games as it’s been,” White said. “I maybe had two or three game or four (game stretches) and then kind of get hot and get back in rhythm. I’m a career 38-39 percent 3-point shooter, so it will all even out. I ain’t worried about it.”

Leading scorer Zach LaVine (21.7 points per game) expressed his support for White.

“Coby plays hard every game. I don’t think that messes with his mindset at all. I think we’ll all be OK.”

The Bulls have been without Josh Giddey (11.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists) for the past three games due to a sprained right ankle. They also played their last game without Lonzo Ball, who was out due to a non-COVID illness.

Atlanta has been missing versatile reserve Bogdan Bogdanovic, who was out with a lower leg bruise, and backup center Onyeka Okongwu, who is dealing with left knee soreness.

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NBA (Basketball)

Bulls and Celtics meet again in Chicago following a dominant fourth quarter

Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls

The Boston Celtics didn’t play well in their 117-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Boston missed a franchise-record 42 3-pointers, hitting only 14 out of 56, and they were outscored 35-22 in the fourth quarter.

The Celtics will try to bounce back and avoid losing to the Bulls for the second time in three days when they play in Chicago on Saturday.

“We were getting decent looks, but we just weren’t making them,” said Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis. “And when you’re not making them, not that our energy was lacking, but it’s just not the same hype. And honestly, they were taking and making some tough shots, and they were also making the open ones.”

Chicago’s Zach LaVine made 6 of 11 3-pointers and scored a season-high 36 points.

“He’s been great, very unselfish,” said Chicago coach Billy Donovan about LaVine. “He’s tried to lead. His poise, his composure has been great. That first half (20 points) he really carried us. Zach kept playing the right way, picked his spots, took his shots when they were there.

I thought he played a great game as far as shot selection, the quality of shots, how aggressive he was to keep us close that first half. I thought he was great all the way around.”

LaVine scored five straight points after Boston closed the gap to 99-96 with a 3-pointer from Jaylen Brown. Two of those points came from free throws after both Boston coach Joe Mazzulla and Brown were given technical fouls with 5:12 left in the game.

Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets

Mazzulla received the tech for walking onto the court, while Brown got one for questioning the call. Jayson Tatum also received a technical foul with 3:10 remaining.

“I thought the physicality — we met it better in the second half and particularly in the fourth quarter,” said Donovan. “Everyone wants to talk about them shooting 3s, and they are great at it, maybe the best in the league.

But it’s the other stuff they do, the physicality, that they can switch one through four or five, that they can post you, go to the offensive glass, generate extra possessions. They’re physical. Besides how great they are as individual players, to me it’s the other stuff they do.”

The win ended Chicago’s five-game losing streak against Boston, which included a 138-129 home loss on November 29. It also gave the Bulls their third straight win, the first time they’ve done that this season.

“From all predictions early on in the year, we’re better than what people predicted us to be just off the talent we had here,” said LaVine. “We’re competitive. You can lose to anyone in the league, and you go out and play like we did (Thursday), we can beat anybody. We’re a resilient group.”

The Bulls were 19 of 52 from 3-point range in Thursday’s win. They were down 57-54 at halftime and 86-82 going into the fourth quarter but used a 12-0 run to take a 99-90 lead.

Boston shot just 39.2 percent from the field, which was their worst shooting percentage of the season. Jayson Tatum finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds but was 10-of-22 shooting.

“They played physical,” said Brown. “They hit shots. They guarded well. If a team’s hitting shots and guarding well, anything can happen on any given night.”

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Bulls edge out Raptors by one, handing them fifth consecutive loss

Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors

Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points, and the Chicago Bulls managed to hold off the Toronto Raptors for a 122-121 victory on Monday night.

Chicago had a 16-point lead but watched it shrink to just one point in the fourth quarter.

Coby White added 19 points for the Bulls, who have now won two games in a row. Josh Giddey contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists before leaving the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter.

Ayo Dosunmu scored 12 points, Talen Horton-Tucker added 15 points off the bench, and Jalen Smith and Julian Phillips each scored 10 points.

RJ Barrett scored 19 of his 32 points in the first half for the Raptors, who have lost five straight games. Gradey Dick scored 27 points, Ochai Agbaji added 15 points, Chris Boucher chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Jamal Shead finished with 10 points.

Jakob Poeltl had six points before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter due to a groin injury.

Chicago led 33-25 after the first quarter and 53-50 at halftime.

Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic hugs in the preseason

The Bulls started the third quarter with a 10-3 run, but Toronto answered with six straight points. Chicago extended their lead to 11 on Lonzo Ball’s 3-pointer with 6:18 left in the third.

After a missed shot from Toronto, Vucevic made a hook shot to increase the lead to 13 with 5:48 remaining in the third. Giddey left the game with a right ankle injury with 4:49 left after committing a foul while sliding into Dick, who was attempting a 3-pointer.

The Bulls led 95-84 after three quarters.

Chicago began the fourth quarter with five straight points. Toronto cut the lead to six with 6:07 to play, thanks to Dick’s 3-pointer. The Raptors then cut the lead to one with Barrett’s hook shot with 2:28 left.

White scored a layup with 53 seconds left, and after a missed shot from Toronto, Ball made a 3-pointer at 1:08 to give the Bulls a 119-113 lead.

Dick hit another 3-pointer, but Vucevic responded with a hook shot to extend the lead to five with 14 seconds remaining. Shead hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it wasn’t enough, as Toronto lost by one point.

Bulls leading scorer Zach LaVine (back spasms) did not play in the game.

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Bulls stifle Hornets’ offense, sail to victory

Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Charlotte Hornets 109-95 on Friday, controlling the game almost from start to finish with a strong defensive effort to end their three-game homestand.

Chicago opened with a 12-2 run in the first quarter, with Ayo Dosunmu leading the charge. Dosunmu, who scored a team-high 19 points, contributed seven consecutive points during this early stretch.

He was one of six Bulls players in double figures, including all five starters. Coby White added 18 points, scoring half of them in the final five minutes to help keep the Hornets at a distance.

Josh Giddey also had a solid all-around game with 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. Zach LaVine scored 13 points, while Jalen Smith, starting in place of the ill Nikola Vucevic, posted 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Smith also contributed to the Bulls’ strong defense with five blocks, helping hold the Hornets to just 35.7% shooting and a poor 8-for-46 (17.4%) from beyond the arc.

Dejounte Murray passes a loose ball away from Jalen Smith

Lonzo Ball finished with 10 points off the bench and also recorded seven rebounds and four assists. He was the only Ball brother playing that night, with Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball still out due to a calf injury.

Chicago maintained a lead that ranged from 10 to 18 points for most of the game, although Charlotte briefly made it close early in the second quarter. Miles Bridges, in his first game since Nov. 19 after recovering from a knee injury, helped Charlotte pull within three points with a layup to start the second quarter. He finished with 14 points.

The Hornets managed to trim the lead to eight points in the fourth quarter, but an 8-0 run from the Bulls, with Ball scoring five of those points, sealed the win.

Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 21 points but struggled with shooting, going just 3-for-15 from three-point range and committing a game-high seven turnovers. Mark Williams shot 6-for-7 from the field, adding 15 points and nine rebounds, but the Hornets fell for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Hornets and Bulls look to bounce back after a four-day break

Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls will wrap up a three-game home stretch on Friday when they face the Charlotte Hornets, both teams returning to play after long breaks.

Both teams last played on Sunday, taking a four-day break after being eliminated from the NBA Cup. Charlotte finished 0-4 in East Group A, while the Bulls went 2-2 in Group C.

Charlotte comes back from a win, snapping an eight-game losing streak with a 113-109 victory over Indiana on Sunday. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 26 points, including two crucial free throws with seven seconds left to seal the win.

That win was Charlotte’s first since losing guard LaMelo Ball to a calf strain. Ball had been on a hot streak, scoring between 32 and 50 points in four straight games before getting injured in the fourth quarter of a Nov. 27 loss to Miami.

Ball, who averages 31.1 points and 6.9 assists per game, will not play on Friday, but he is reportedly getting closer to returning.

Without LaMelo Ball, there won’t be a reunion of the Ball brothers on the court, as Chicago has had Lonzo Ball in the lineup for five of its last six games after a nearly three-year absence. Lonzo Ball scored a season-high nine points and recorded four assists in a 132-123 loss to Indiana on Dec. 6.

Adding to Charlotte’s troubles, they’ve also been without Tre Mann, LaMelo Ball’s backup, who has been sidelined since Nov. 23 with a back issue.

LaMelo Ball reacts in the 2nd half

Hornets coach Charles Lee said the team’s performance staff has done a good job adjusting to the injuries, which also include forward Miles Bridges.

With both Ball and Mann out, Vasilije Milic has started at point guard for the past six games, scoring at least 13 points in four of them.

The Bulls head into Friday’s game on a two-game losing streak, after defeats to Indiana and Philadelphia, including a 108-100 loss to the 76ers on Sunday. Zach LaVine, the team’s top scorer with 22.1 points per game, scored 32 and 30 points in the two recent losses.

LaVine’s individual performance has been impressive, especially after a foot injury limited him to just 25 games last season. Before the injury, LaVine averaged at least 23.7 points per game over five seasons.

LaVine told the Chicago Sun-Times that while he may need to lead the offense at times, this season has been more about playing in spurts, and that’s not the team’s current style.

Nikola Vucevic, the second-leading scorer for the Bulls with 21 points per game, has had quiet games recently, scoring 13 points in each of the two losses. He had scored 39 points in a Dec. 5 win over San Antonio.

Vucevic is shooting a career-high 64.2 percent on 2-point attempts this season. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot 55.8 percent from inside the 3-point arc, which could be an area the Bulls take advantage of.

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NBA (Basketball)

Joel Embiid nets 31 points in his comeback, leading the Sixers to a win over the Bulls

Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls

Joel Embiid made his return after missing seven games due to a left knee injury and scored 31 points with 12 rebounds, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 108-100 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday afternoon.

Embiid helped the 76ers secure their fourth win in five games. Tyrese Maxey also had a great performance, recording his first career triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists.

Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. each contributed 12 points for the 76ers, who outshot the Bulls 46.7 percent to 40.7 percent from the field.

Zach LaVine scored 30 points for the Bulls, who hit 19 three-pointers but still couldn’t avoid their second consecutive loss. Nikola Vucevic and Coby White both added 13 points, with Vucevic also grabbing eight rebounds.

The Bulls found themselves down by 19 points just over four minutes into the second half but started to make a comeback at the end of the third quarter. They closed the quarter with an 8-0 run, including a 3-pointer from Jalen Smith at the buzzer, cutting the 76ers’ lead to 88-79 heading into the final period.

Joel Embiid tries to pass in the game

With 5:24 left in the game, LaVine hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to just four points at 96-92, but the Bulls couldn’t get any closer.

LaVine had 10 points in the first quarter, helping the Bulls take a 33-23 lead after the opening 12 minutes.

Embiid took control in the second quarter, scoring 19 points. He was especially key during a 24-6 run to start the period, with 15 of those points coming from him. The 76ers built a 14-point lead before going into halftime with a 62-50 advantage.

The Bulls tried to close the gap in the third quarter, getting as close as 65-54 after Vucevic scored a floater and two free throws in the first 1:34. However, Embiid converted a three-point play, sparking a 14-6 run that pushed the 76ers’ lead to 79-60 with 7:44 left in the third.

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NBA (Basketball)

Tyrese Haliburton led the way as the Pacers defeated the Bulls, snapping their four-game losing streak

Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls

Tyrese Haliburton scored 23 points, and Pascal Siakam added 21 to help the Indiana Pacers end their four-game losing streak with a 132-123 win against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Haliburton made 5 of 9 three-pointers and recorded eight assists. Siakam also hit 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. The Pacers had previously lost eight straight games on the road.

Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell each scored 17 points off the bench in the victory.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 32 points, including 5 of 9 from three-point range. Coby White contributed 19 points and nine assists for Chicago.

The Bulls made 21 of 50 three-pointers, marking the fifth time this season they had attempted 50 or more in a game.

Indiana took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Bulls 36-19, and managed to hold their lead in the second half.

White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Matas Buzelis each made two three-pointers as the Bulls led 35-31 after the first quarter.

Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes in the 2nd half

However, the Pacers turned things around in the second quarter with a strong performance on both ends of the floor.

Indiana went on an 18-3 run, hitting eight straight shots without a miss, which gave them a 56-44 lead with 5:09 left in the half.

The Pacers extended their lead to 72-56 in the third quarter before LaVine sparked a Bulls comeback, scoring 16 points in the period.

Chicago cut the Pacers’ lead to 103-100 when they started the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run in less than a minute. Dosunmu stole the ball and assisted on Julian Phillips’ acrobatic dunk. After a timeout, the Pacers regained control, with Haliburton scoring eight points on 3-of-4 shooting in the final quarter.

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Nikola Vucevic scores 39 points as Bulls defeat Spurs

Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs

Nikola Vucevic scored a season-high 39 points, and Ayo Dosunmu added 27 points along with a career-high 11 rebounds, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 139-124 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

The Bulls were ahead by 11 points going into the final quarter after holding off a brief Spurs rally late in the third. San Antonio cut the lead to 130-122 with 3:18 left on two free throws by Keldon Johnson, but Chicago responded with nine straight points, finishing with Vucevic’s layup at 1:31 to seal the victory.

Talen Horton-Tucker contributed 13 points, and Dalen Terry added 12 points for the Bulls, who won their second straight game. Matas Buzelis scored 11 points, while Zach LaVine contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.

For the Spurs, Keldon Johnson scored 28 points off the bench. Devin Vassell had 17 points, Jeremy Sochan added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Chris Paul, Stephon Castle, and Julian Champagnie each scored 12 points. Paul also recorded nine assists.

Nikola Vucevic and Wendell Carter Jr. in the 1st half

San Antonio played without star center Victor Wembanyama, who missed the game due to a sore back. This was their second consecutive loss and third in the past four games.

The Bulls dominated the first quarter, taking a 36-22 lead, with Dosunmu scoring 11 points. Chicago stretched the lead to 20 points when Matas Buzelis dunked with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter. A last-second jumper from Charles Bassey cut the Spurs’ deficit to 14 points, but Vucevic’s putback gave Chicago a 73-57 lead at halftime.

Vucevic led the Bulls with 13 points before the break, as Chicago shot 60% from the field, while the Spurs shot 43.1%. Johnson led San Antonio in the first half with 11 points.

In the game, the Bulls made 57.8% of their field goals, while the Spurs hit 46.3%. Chicago had a significant advantage from beyond the arc, making 45.9% of their 3-pointers (17 of 37), compared to San Antonio’s 28.6% (8 of 28).