TORONTO — Coby White delivered an impressive performance with 25 points, complemented by Nikola Vucevic’s double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds, as the Chicago Bulls secured a 122-106 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday evening. This win effectively halted the Raptors’ five-game winning streak, which had been their best run of the season so far.
Jalen Smith contributed with a season-high of 17 points, while teammates Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis chipped in with 15 and 12 points, respectively. With this victory, the Bulls extended their winning streak to three games in Toronto, showcasing their capability to perform well on the road.
For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes recorded a solid game with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while RJ Barrett added 19 points and Immanuel Quickley provided 14. The team entered this matchup with an impressive record of winning seven out of their last eight games, highlighting their recent improvement in form.
Quickley’s return to the starting lineup was notable, having been sidelined for the preceding eight games due to a strained left hip. Unfortunately for Toronto, their record drops to 1-9 when he starts. Additionally, the Raptors faced a tough statistic, falling to 1-24 when trailing at halftime.
In terms of takeaways from the game, the Bulls operated without their leading scorer Zach LaVine, who missed a second consecutive appearance for personal reasons. Although Chicago struggled against Boston in LaVine’s absence, they found their rhythm against Toronto.
Meanwhile, Toronto managed to finish January with a respectable 8-7 record, marking their first winning month since November 2023—a sign of their recent resurgence.
A pivotal moment occurred when Barrett’s layup gave the Raptors a narrow lead of 64-63 with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter. However, Buzelis swiftly responded, scoring seven points as part of an 18-8 run for the Bulls, allowing them to claim an 88-74 advantage entering the final quarter.
A notable statistic from the contest showed that the Bulls dominated bench scoring, outpacing the Raptors 50-32 in that department, which played a crucial role in securing their win.
Looking ahead, both teams are set for action this coming Sunday, with the Bulls traveling to Detroit, while the Raptors will host the Los Angeles Clippers in what promises to be an intriguing matchup.