The Bulls walked into Friday night already carrying plenty of baggage. Caleb Wilson was out with a broken hand, the losing streak had stretched to eight games, and Chicago needed a clean response badly.
They got one in the form of a 125-117 overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks, a result powered by a sharper, more connected effort than the Bulls had shown lately. After the game, veteran guard Norman Powell pointed to the simplest explanation for the turnaround.
“Everybody was focused,” Powell said.
Powell, back after dealing with back spasms, was central to the win from the jump. He scored a game-high 33 points, knocking down 12 of 19 shots overall and going 4-for-8 from deep. He also helped set the tone for a Bulls offense that got contributions from all over the floor.
Josh Giddey, Jalen Smith and Isaac Okoro each added 15 points. Giddey filled the box score with 14 assists and 10 rebounds for a triple-double, while Patrick Williams chipped in 13 points off the bench. Buddy Hield scored 12 and moved past Kyle Lowry on the 3-point list.
Matas Buzelis finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Chicago also cleaned up one area that had hurt it against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Buzelis and Giddey combined for six turnovers, a major drop from the 13 they had together in that game.
There was a scare in overtime when Smith was taken out after a hard fall and appeared to injure his hand.
The win moved the Bulls to 2-9, and now the schedule turns immediately to the road. Chicago plays the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, and the Brooklyn Nets next Wednesday.
After that trip, the Bulls return home for two games: the Washington Wizards next Friday, November 20, and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, November 22.
In Other News...
Bulls Finally End Skid But Jalen Smith Leaves A New Concern
The Bulls finally got a much-needed result in NBA Cup group play, snapping an eight-game losing streak with a 125-117 overtime win over the Hawks. It was the kind of game Chicago had to have just to steady itself, and it came at a time when every possession has carried a little extra weight as the schedule keeps moving.
Late in overtime, though, the night took on a different tone when Hawks big man Jalen Smith suffered a wrist injury and headed to the locker room. The Bulls will turn right back to work with games coming against the Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Nets, but the bigger question out of this one is whether Atlanta will be dealing with another injury concern after a hard-fought finish. [Read more 🡒]
Buddy Hield Just Gave The Bulls A Rare Reason To Smile
Buddy Hield has given the Bulls a small but notable bright spot during an otherwise rough stretch. The veteran guard, acquired before the season in a three-way trade, has spent much of his early Chicago tenure trying to settle in, but his place in NBA history is a reminder of the shooting pedigree he brings to a roster that can use any lift it can get right now.
Chicago is in the middle of an eight-game losing streak and facing Atlanta in NBA Cup group play, so the timing of Hields milestone offers at least a little perspective amid the frustration. He has played eight games this season and is averaging 5.8 points per game, but even in a difficult start for the Bulls, his climb up the all-time 3-point list is the kind of accomplishment that stands out. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Face One Big Frontcourt Question Against A Red-Hot Wolves
The Bulls head into the second night of a back-to-back with a frontcourt issue hanging over their matchup in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves have stayed strong even without Anthony Edwards. Chicago is trying to sort out its big-man rotation on the fly, and Jalen Smiths status is part of that equation after he was listed questionable following the previous game.
Smiths availability matters because the Bulls are already dealing with the usual wear and tear that comes with a back-to-back, and Minnesota has been playing with enough consistency to make any lineup uncertainty feel more significant. The Wolves are still operating without Edwards, but they have found ways to keep winning, which leaves Chicago needing clarity inside before tipoff and a little more stability than a late injury report can provide. [Read more 🡒]