CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls enjoyed a strong performance on Monday night, defeating the Denver Nuggets 129-121, marking Denver’s second consecutive defeat. Nikola Vucevic stood out with a solid contribution of 20 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Zach LaVine added 21 points, while Lonzo Ball chipped in with 18 points, helping the Bulls bounce back after struggling with seven losses in their last eight contests. Ayo Dosunmu also played well, scoring 17 points for Chicago.
The Bulls showcased their shooting prowess from beyond the arc, hitting 24 out of 53 three-point attempts, and had a total of seven players scoring in double digits during the game.
On the opposing side, Nikola Jokic delivered yet another remarkable performance for Denver, accumulating 33 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds. This marked his sixth triple-double in seven games, bringing his season total to an impressive 21 triple-doubles, the highest in the NBA. Christian Braun was another key performer for the Nuggets, scoring 28 points, while both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. contributed 18 points each.
The Bulls gained the momentum early in the fourth quarter with a decisive 13-0 run, starting with a three-pointer and a layup from Dalen Terry. Matas Buzelis added to the lead with a dunk after an injury sidelined Aaron Gordon, pushing the score to 108-96 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Terry’s individual performance was notable as he finished the game with 13 points on an efficient 5-for-6 shooting.
Earlier in the game, the Bulls managed to take the lead towards the end of the third quarter with a 12-0 run, allowing them to surge ahead 90-88. However, Jokic responded with a powerful jam and made a technical foul shot, allowing the Nuggets to head into the final quarter with a narrow 96-95 lead.
In terms of bench contributions, Chicago had a significant advantage with a score of 41-10 in points from its bench, thanks to efforts from players including Josh Giddey, who provided a solid 12 points along with 10 assists.
A critical moment in the game occurred when Murray’s jump shot brought Denver within three points at 121-118 with 2:22 left on the clock. However, LaVine quickly answered back with a three-pointer to extend Chicago’s lead.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will visit the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, while the Bulls will embark on a three-game road trip, starting with a matchup against the Boston Celtics on the same evening.
