CHICAGO – In a thrilling finish, Coby White’s layup with just 47 seconds remaining lifted the Chicago Bulls to a 114-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday evening.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with an impressive performance, contributing 35 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Despite facing a daunting 19-point deficit, the Bulls staged a remarkable comeback in the fourth quarter. Nikola Vucevic also made a significant impact, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while White added 23 points to the team’s total.
White’s go-ahead layup marked a pivotal moment, giving Chicago a narrow lead at 111-110. Following this, Devin Vassell of the Spurs turned the ball over, allowing White to drive towards the basket and execute a dunk over a late-arriving Victor Wembanyama, eliciting excitement from the crowd of 18,886 at the United Center.
Wembanyama had an impressive night himself, posting 23 points, 14 rebounds, and eight blocks for San Antonio, which had entered the final quarter with a 95-82 lead. Chris Paul also contributed with 18 points and nine assists during this opening game of a four-game road trip for the Spurs.
The Bulls began their resurgence with an 11-0 run that narrowed San Antonio’s lead to 79-71 with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter. However, Paul quickly responded with two free throws, a pull-up jumper, and a three-pointer, extending the Spurs’ lead to 86-73 by the 4:18 mark of the quarter.
**Highlights**
The Spurs relied on Wembanyama’s defensive prowess, bolstered by Vassell, who recorded three blocks and two steals. The Bulls celebrated their victory as they secured their fourth win in five games, following a recent 139-126 triumph over the New York Knicks.
**Crucial Moments**
Trailing 110-103 with just under four minutes left, the Bulls fought back. Vucevic and LaVine both sank three-pointers, bringing Chicago within one point, 110-109, with 2:38 on the clock.
**Statistical Insight**
In the fourth quarter, Chicago excelled with a shooting percentage of 62.5% from beyond the arc, hitting 5 of 8 attempts, while San Antonio struggled at just 11.1%, making only 1 of 9 three-point tries.
**Next Games**
The two teams will be back in action on Wednesday night, with the Spurs traveling to Milwaukee and the Bulls heading to Indiana.
