Matas Buzelis Delivers Historic Night as Bulls Outgun Hawks in Offensive Showcase
The Chicago Bulls walked out of Sunday night with a wild 152-150 win over the Atlanta Hawks, but the real headline belonged to second-year forward Matas Buzelis. In a game where defense took a backseat, Buzelis put together one of the most efficient scoring performances in franchise history - and he did it with the kind of confidence and precision that suggests this won’t be a one-off.
Buzelis dropped 28 points on a blistering 10-of-11 shooting from the field, including a near-perfect 7-of-8 from beyond the arc. That kind of efficiency isn’t just rare - it’s record-breaking.
No player in Bulls history has ever scored 25 or more points in a game with that level of shooting accuracy. Add in three rebounds, two blocks, and just 29 minutes of action, and you’ve got a stat line that jumps off the page.
This performance wasn’t an isolated flash, either. It marked Buzelis’ second straight 20-point outing - the first time he’s done that this season. Just two nights earlier, he poured in 24 points on 60% shooting in a win over the Cavaliers, showing signs that his offensive game is starting to click at the NBA level.
Through 28 games this season, Buzelis has been a steady presence for Chicago, appearing in every contest while averaging 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. That’s a significant leap from his rookie campaign, where he averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in under 19 minutes per game. Now in his second year, he’s logging over 28 minutes a night and has become a trusted part of Billy Donovan’s rotation.
The Bulls took Buzelis with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after a stint with the G League Ignite, and his development has been one of the more encouraging storylines in a season that’s had its share of ups and downs.
Speaking of ups - Chicago’s offense was firing on all cylinders against Atlanta. The Bulls shot a scorching 58% from the field (53-of-92) and knocked down 20-of-42 from deep, good for 48%.
It wasn’t just Buzelis lighting it up from long range, either. Isaac Okoro, Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Kevin Huerter all hit multiple threes, turning the game into a full-team shootout.
This offensive surge comes at a critical time. After enduring a tough seven-game losing streak earlier in the season, the Bulls have now won four of their last five. At 13-15, they sit 10th in the Eastern Conference - just one game behind the Hawks, who dropped to 15-15 with the loss.
There’s still plenty of basketball left, but if Buzelis continues to trend upward like this, he could become a major x-factor in Chicago’s push to climb the standings. For now, though, Sunday night was about a young forward making history - and doing it with the kind of efficiency that turns heads across the league.