The Chicago Bulls rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 65‑58, snapping a slow‑scoring contest with a burst of three‑point shooting in the final minutes. Nikola Jokic opened the game with a two‑point jumper to give Denver a 41‑36 lead, but the Bulls answered with timely three‑pointers from Rob Dillingham and later Anfernee Simons, who hit a three‑point step‑back to trim the gap to 42‑41.
Key moments
Midway through the second quarter, Nick Richards delivered a two‑point running dunk for Denver, restoring a narrow lead at 41‑38. Shortly after, Tim Hardaway Jr. Converted a pair of free throws to push Denver ahead 44‑41. The Bulls responded with a three‑point shot from Dillingham (44‑46) and a crucial three‑point jumper from Simons at the 10:20 mark, tying the game at 42‑41.
Denver’s offense stalled as turnovers mounted: Bruce Brown lost the ball to a Nick Richards steal and Jokic committed a awful pass out of bounds. Meanwhile, Chicago’s bench contributed, with Guerschon Yabusele draining a three‑pointer off an Isaac Okoro assist to give the Bulls a 58‑65 lead with just over a minute remaining. The Nuggets tied the game at 56‑56 on a Julian Strawther reverse layup assisted by Jamal Murray, but Chicago reclaimed the advantage when Simons hit a three‑point pull‑up at 2:01, pushing the score to 58‑61.
In the closing seconds, both teams missed opportunities: Jokic’s final two‑point layup and a free‑throw attempt by Matas Buzelis went astray, sealing the Bulls’ victory. The win improves Chicago’s standing in the Eastern Conference, while Denver must regroup after a defensive lapse that allowed the Bulls to overturn the lead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the leading scorers?
Anfernee Simons contributed key three‑point shots for Chicago, while Nick Richards and Tim Hardaway Jr. Led Denver’s scoring with a dunk and free throws respectively.
What was the final score?
The Chicago Bulls won the game 65‑58 over the Denver Nuggets.
What turning point gave the Bulls the edge?
Guerschon Yabusele’s three‑point jumper off an Isaac Okoro assist at the 1:17 mark put Chicago ahead 58‑65, a lead they maintained through the final minute.
What do you think was the most pivotal play that swung the momentum in Chicago’s favor?
