Mandy
The Utah Jazz continued to prove that offense is not their issue this season, defeating the Chicago Bulls 150-147 in a thrilling double-overtime showdown.
From the opening tip, Utah delivered high-octane scoring and forced Bulls Chicago to fight for every possession, ultimately sealing the game with clutch late-game execution.
Jazz Set The Tone Early
Former Bull Lauri Markkanen opened the scoring by finishing a clean assist from Jusuf Nurkic, and Svi Mykhailiuk followed with a quick three.
The real spark came from Ace Bailey, who made an immediate impact with a putback slam and a three-pointer within moments, pushing Utah to a 10-3 lead less than three minutes into the contest.
Meanwhile, Bulls Chicago’s starters struggled to find a rhythm—even with Josh Giddey returning from a short absence. As has happened several times this season, the second unit had to step in and lift the team.
Bulls Bench Leads The First Surge
One of the brightest moments for Chicago was the return of Coby White, who checked in with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter.
White caught a pass from Ayo Dosunmu, came off a screen, and drilled a three immediately—showcasing what felt like a vintage Coby White moment, despite being only 25 years old.
White displayed full-speed energy, even attempting to take a charge moments later. His intensity helped reset Chicago’s tempo.
The bench also received an unexpected boost from Julian Phillips, who scored 8 points in just four minutes on perfect shooting, including a corner triple that tied the game at 28. Chicago’s reserves scored 21 of the team’s 33 first-quarter points.
Offense Comes Alive In The Second Quarter
The Bulls gradually increased pressure on the paint in the second frame. This created multiple free-throw opportunities and opened up productive kick-out passes.
One highlight came when White sliced through the defense and delivered a mid-air dish to Patrick Williams, who knocked down a three to give Chicago a 54-46 advantage.
Chicago closed the half strong by scoring 14 points in the final 2:19, all from Giddey and White, taking a 70-61 lead into the locker room.
Their strong play was reminiscent of the late 2024–25 season, when the Giddey-White backcourt ranked among the NBA’s most effective guard duos.
Jazz Counter In The Third Quarter
After Nikola Vucevic hit a three to give Chicago a 15-point lead midway through the third, it looked like the Bulls were finally controlling the game.
However, Keyonte George and Markkanen responded in emphatic fashion, combining for 23 points in the quarter while going 9-for-9 at the free-throw line.
Utah’s success at the stripe—where they have excelled all season—helped them stay within striking distance.
Fourth Quarter Turns Chaotic
A free throw from Isaiah Collier cut the deficit to two early in the fourth, and after Giddey missed a three, Brice Sensabaugh connected from deep to give the Jazz a 102-101 lead.
From there, the game evolved into a trading of blows that wouldn’t end until three buzzer situations and two overtimes later.
With the game tied at 127, Chicago chose to isolate Giddey in the final seconds of regulation. He got off a decent shot, but it rattled out—a puzzling call, considering White was playing extended crunch-time minutes.
First Overtime: Wild Swings And Clutch Moments
With Utah leading 136-132 inside the final 30 seconds, Matas Buzelis hammered home a dunk before Chicago forced a turnover off the inbound.
With the chance to tie or take the lead, Coby White lost the ball out of bounds. He immediately redeemed himself by forcing and winning a jump ball, setting up one final chance.
This time, Billy Donovan handed the ball to White, who exploded past Markkanen to tie the game at the rim—despite what appeared to be a missed foul call on Markkanen.
Second Overtime Slips Away
The Bulls were visibly tired entering double overtime. Dosunmu turned the ball over, then fouled George on a three-point attempt. Utah remained steady, while Chicago committed several costly mistakes, including a late turnover from Giddey.
White kept the Bulls within reach and tied the game at 147 with 8.4 seconds left. However, Keyonte George ended the night with a clutch three-pointer, sealing Utah’s 150-147 victory.
Bulls’ Worrisome Slide
Chicago began the season 6-1 but now sits at 6-6. Losses to contenders like Milwaukee and Cleveland are acceptable, but dropping back-to-back games to Detroit and a rebuilding Utah team—especially after three days of rest—stings.
Their schedule doesn’t ease up either, with a matchup against the 10-2 Denver Nuggets less than 24 hours later, followed by four more games in a packed seven-day stretch.
Player Grades
Coby White – A
27 PTS, 8 AST, 4 REB
White’s return was outstanding. Despite shooting only 5-of-14, he brought energy, poise, and consistency. His 14-of-14 performance from the free-throw line helped keep Chicago in the fight.
Matas Buzelis – B+
18 PTS, 6 REB, 1 STL, 2 BLK
Buzelis provided valuable scoring, shot efficiently, and had clutch moments. However, he disappeared at times when Chicago needed another offensive option and fouled out early in double OT.
Ayo Dosunmu – B
18 PTS, 5 AST
Dosunmu shot 6-of-10 and hit a critical three late in regulation. Still, seeing him play just 25 minutes in a double-overtime game raises questions.
Julian Phillips – B
10 PTS, 1 REB
Phillips contributed immediate offense, shooting 4-of-5 in 13 minutes. His spark was a major factor in Chicago’s early momentum, and he arguably deserved more minutes.
Josh Giddey – C+
26 PTS, 13 AST, 12 REB
Despite a triple-double, Giddey was inconsistent. His 9-of-21 shooting, six turnovers, and missed threes late in the game hurt Chicago’s chances.
Nikola Vucevic – C
21 PTS, 13 REB, 2 AST
Vucevic hit key shots but struggled defensively at the rim, an ongoing issue that was noticeable in critical moments.
Chicago Bulls Box Score
The Bulls showed resilience and firepower but ultimately fell short in a game they had multiple opportunities to secure.
While the Jazz executed better in crunch time, Chicago’s turnovers, fatigue, and questionable late decisions cost them what could have been a much-needed win. With a grueling schedule ahead, Chicago must regroup quickly to avoid slipping further down the standings.