Bulls Snap Skid, Shock Nuggets 130–127 Behind Bench Surge/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Chicago Bulls ended their five-game losing streak with a stunning 130–127 road win over the red-hot Denver Nuggets. Chicago’s bench outscored Denver’s 66–9, with late-game heroics from Nikola Vučević and Kevin Huerter sealing the victory. Despite Jokic’s triple-double, the Bulls’ depth and resilience stole the spotlight.
Bulls vs. Nuggets Quick Looks
- Bulls beat Nuggets 130–127, ending Denver’s seven-game win streak
- Vučević hits clutch three-pointer in final minute despite earlier shooting woes
- Chicago’s bench outscores Denver’s 66–9, led by Dosunmu (21), Smith (16), Carter (15)
- Bulls snap five-game losing streak on second night of back-to-back
- Jokic posts 36-point triple-double but Denver defense falters
- Murray scores 34, with 18 in the fourth-quarter rally
- Bulls hit 19 threes, dominate second half bench scoring 29–2
- Giddey shines with 21 points, 14 rebounds, key drives
- Donovan praises team depth, bench readiness after double OT loss
- Nuggets struggle with communication, miss critical late-game rotations
Deep Look
Bulls Stun Nuggets in Mile-High Thriller, Snap Skid Behind Dominant Bench Performance
DENVER — Exhausted, shorthanded, and written off before tip-off, the Chicago Bulls delivered one of their gutsiest performances of the season Monday night, toppling the Denver Nuggets 130–127 at Ball Arena. On the second night of a grueling back-to-back — following a double-overtime loss in Utah — the Bulls snapped a five-game losing streak and ended the Nuggets’ seven-game winning run with resilience, clutch execution, and a massive lift from their bench.
Nikola Vučević, despite a rough shooting night, buried a critical three-pointer with 33.4 seconds left to give Chicago a 126–122 lead, and Kevin Huerter added a go-ahead triple moments earlier as the Bulls withstood a furious Denver comeback led by Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray.
“I’m proud of this group,” said Josh Giddey, who tallied 21 points and 14 rebounds. “We needed this badly. Guys stepped up. The bench carried us.”
Bench Mob Delivers
With starters Coby White (rest) and Tre Jones (ankle) unavailable, Chicago’s reserves stole the spotlight. The Bulls’ bench outscored Denver’s 66–9, including a staggering 29–2 edge in the second half. Ayo Dosunmu led the charge with 21 points, Jalen Smith added 16 before exiting with a shoulder injury, and Jevon Carter contributed 15 on 5-of-10 shooting from deep.
That dominant bench effort erased Denver’s home-court advantage — previously undefeated at Ball Arena this season — and offset a monster night from Jokic, who posted 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists.
“They kept us in the game when the starters struggled,” Giddey added. “That’s who we are. We’re deep, and tonight proved it.”
A Game of Swings
Chicago built an early 18-point lead in the first half with strong bench production and perimeter shooting. But Denver surged back behind a second-quarter run, taking a 64–63 lead into halftime. The Bulls responded in the third quarter, riding three-point shooting from Carter and Smith to retake control and enter the fourth with a 10-point cushion.
But the Nuggets, led by Jamal Murray’s 18 fourth-quarter points, stormed back. Murray hit a key layup to give Denver a 117–116 lead with 2:19 remaining. Moments later, Jokic drilled a three to put the Nuggets ahead 120–118.
It looked like Chicago’s effort might fall short — until Vučević and Huerter reversed the script.
After drawing a double-team in the post, Vučević found Huerter wide open at the top of the arc for a go-ahead three with 1:25 left. Vučević then intercepted a pass on the other end, leading to a fast-break layup from Dosunmu and a 123–120 lead.
After a Jokic response, Vučević found himself open again — and despite missing three prior threes — buried the dagger from distance.
“That was a huge shot,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman. “We needed a contest there. Vučević hadn’t been hitting, but he stepped up when it mattered.”
Nuggets Caught Off Guard
Denver’s vaunted bench was largely ineffective, with the second unit contributing just nine points. Defensively, they were a step slow on key rotations late in the game.
“They were ahead of us all night,” said Jokic. “Pushing the ball, attacking. We were reacting, not initiating. They shot the ball really well.”
Despite Jokic’s brilliance and 34 points from Murray, the Nuggets couldn’t overcome poor defensive execution in crunch time and sluggish support from their bench.
Donovan Credits Depth, Preparation
Head coach Billy Donovan praised his team’s composure and depth after a draining 2OT loss the night before.
“I told the guys after Utah, everyone needed to stay ready,” Donovan said. “I give credit to Dalen [Terry], Jevon [Carter], Julian [Phillips], and that second unit. They brought energy, hit big shots, and didn’t back down.”
Donovan also highlighted Vučević’s persistence.
“He was struggling, but stayed engaged,” Donovan added. “That final three was huge.”
Bulls Respond in Adversity
With the victory, the Bulls improve to 7–6 and regain momentum after a demoralizing losing streak. More importantly, the win showcased the team’s mental toughness and depth — elements Donovan has preached all season.
“It’s easy to fall apart during a losing streak,” Giddey said. “But we stuck together. We responded in a tough environment. That’s who we are.”
And in the altitude of Denver, under pressure, with the odds stacked against them — the Bulls showed who they could be.
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