CHICAGO – Coby White delivered a standout performance with 24 points, including a pivotal four-point play, leading the Chicago Bulls to a dramatic 125-115 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
White’s crucial play came with merely four seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game at 110 and paving the way for extra time. In the overtime period, Lonzo Ball hit two critical 3-pointers during an opening 10-2 run, securing the lead for Chicago and leaving Toronto trailing.
Josh Giddey contributed significantly for the Bulls, notching 19 points and 12 assists. Zach Collins also made an impact, scoring 15 points and collecting 13 rebounds. On the Raptors’ side, Scottie Barnes matched White’s 24 points, though Toronto faced their third consecutive defeat, having lost nine of their last 11 games. Immanuel Quickley managed to score 23 points for Toronto but fouled out just a minute into the overtime period.
Although Toronto held a 101-88 lead with nine minutes remaining, the Bulls rallied furiously, executing a 12-0 scoring streak over the ensuing four and a half minutes.
At halftime, the Raptors led 63-54, having initiated the second quarter with a 10-2 surge. However, as the game advanced, their dominance waned.
Toronto appeared to command the game for most of the night, but ultimately, errors and missed opportunities allowed the Bulls to close the gap. Chicago capitalized on Toronto’s mistakes, recording 24 points from turnovers.
The absence of center Nikola Vucevic (right calf), missing his third consecutive game for the Bulls, was evident in the rebounding stats; the team was outrebounded 51-45 in total and 16-10 on offensive boards.
A defining moment occurred when several Bulls fans started leaving after Toronto gained a 110-106 lead in the final seconds. However, those who stayed witnessed a thrilling turn of events when White sunk a 3-pointer and drew a foul from Quickley, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Despite a lackluster 13 for 49 performance from beyond the arc, the Bulls nailed the critical three-pointer when it was most needed.
Next up, Toronto will head to Orlando for their next matchup on Sunday, while the Bulls will face Indiana the same day.
