The Bulls' February struggles have hit a historic low, marking their worst February in franchise history with a 0-9 record. Despite a valiant effort, they couldn't overcome the Knicks at home on Sunday night. New York, sitting third in the Eastern Conference with a 37-21 record, sealed the Bulls' fate with a series of clutch shots, culminating in a 105-99 loss for Chicago.
Throughout the month, the Bulls have been outscored by an average of 17.9 points per game. They managed to hold a lead against the Knicks with under three minutes left, but three-pointers from Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges fueled an 11-4 run for New York to close the game.
Towns was a force, posting 28 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Knicks. Jalen Brunson added 17 points and eight assists, despite some shooting woes.
For the Bulls, Matas Buzelis led with 15 points, one of five Chicago players to hit double figures. Guerschon Yabusele, facing his former team after a recent trade, recorded an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Josh Giddey struggled, managing just four points on 2-of-10 shooting, a stark contrast to his previous 27-point performance.
Chicago's offense started slow, with eight of their first nine shots coming from beyond the arc and only one connecting. Nick Richards provided a spark, grabbing three rebounds and making multiple trips to the line, helping the Bulls to a 27-25 lead after the first quarter.
The Bulls extended their lead to eight points with a Buzelis corner three, set up by Patrick Williams' fifth assist. However, the Knicks countered with threes from Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet, tying the game at 52 before halftime. Rob Dillingham's free throw gave the Bulls a narrow lead at the break.
The Knicks came out strong in the third quarter, while the Bulls' offense stalled, scoring just 12 points in nearly 10 minutes. Buzelis reignited Chicago's offense with a four-point play, and a Dillingham putback capped a 13-5 run, cutting the deficit to five points heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, Collin Sexton hit two crucial threes as the Bulls clawed back. Isaac Okoro forced a turnover, leading to a Giddey-to-Buzelis transition three, putting Chicago ahead 95-94 during an 11-0 run.
However, OG Anunoby's steal from Giddey set the stage for Towns to take control. He hit a pull-up three and a smooth finger-roll to regain the lead for New York, ultimately sealing the Bulls' fate.