The Chicago Bulls are quietly turning into the one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls entered Thursday night’s matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers at 8-2 over their last 10 games, spurred on by recent hot streaks from Coby White and Josh Giddey. The Bulls dropped 146 points in a win over the Lakers just last weekend. The rematch proved to be even more memorable.
Chicago was up for most of the first half before the Lakers pulled away in the third quarter to take a 16-point lead into the final frame. It looked like Los Angeles was going to coast to an easy win for most of the fourth quarter, but suddenly the Bulls woke up and somehow stole another win.
The Lakers held a five-point lead with 12 seconds to play after Austin Reaves knocked down a pair of free throws. The Bulls inbounded the ball half court, swung the ball to corner, and Patrick Williams knocked down a three-pointer. Josh Giddey then stole the inbounds pass and hit Coby White, who buried another three. The Lakers called timeout and answered with a bucket when Reaves hit the go-ahead shot with about three seconds left. With no timeouts left, the Bulls had to go the length of the court for a chance to win the game.
Giddey pulled up from halfcourt and drained the shot. Bulls win, 119-117. Watch Giddey’s halfcourt buzzer-beater here:
Giddey finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals. He said after the game this was the first buzzer-beater of his life. What a way to get one.
The fact that the Bulls even had a shot to win game at the buzzer looked incredibly unlikely just seconds earlier. Chicago needed so much to go right to set up Giddey’s heave, with Williams’ corner three, Giddey’s steal, and White’s three putting the Bulls briefly ahead.
The Bulls improve to 33-40 with the win. They would be the No. 9 seed in the East if the season ended today, hosting the 9-10 play-in game and then needing to beat the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game to make the playoffs.
No one should want to see Chicago right now. The Bulls play super fast, jack a ton of threes, and regularly run teams ragged in the fourth quarter. It’s been another mediocre season for the Bulls, but the way the young core has come together lately has provided some reason for optimism for the first time in years.
