Bulls Bench Big in 129-121 Win over Nuggets
CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Vucevic had 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the Chicago Bulls handed the Denver Nuggets their second straight loss with a 129-121 victory on Monday night.
Strong Team Effort for Bulls
Zach LaVine scored 21 points and Lonzo Ball had 18 for Chicago, which had lost seven of eight. Ayo Dosunmu added 17 points.
Three-Pointer Shooting
The Bulls went 24 for 53 from 3-point range and had seven players score in double figures.
Nuggets’ Jokic Delivers
Denver wasted another impressive performance by Nikola Jokic, who had 33 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds in his sixth triple-double in his last seven games. The three-time MVP has an NBA-best 21 triple-doubles this season.
Fourth Quarter Surge
The Bulls grabbed the lead for good when they opened the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run. Dalen Terry made a 3-pointer and a layup before Matas Buzelis drove inside for a dunk after Aaron Gordon fell down, making it 108-96 with 8:51 left.
Takeaways
Nuggets: Struggled from long range, going 6 for 27 from behind the arc.
Bulls: Josh Giddey provided a lift with 12 points and 10 assists.
Key Moment
Denver closed to 121-118 on Jamal Murray’s jumper with 2:22 left. But LaVine responded with a 3 for Chicago.
Key Stat
Led by Terry and Patrick Williams, Chicago had a 41-10 advantage in bench points.
Up Next
Denver visits the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. Chicago opens a three-game trip at Boston on Wednesday night.
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The Chicago Bulls’ bench played a crucial role in their 129-121 win over the Denver Nuggets, outscoring Denver’s bench 41-10. The Bulls’ strong team effort, led by Vucevic, LaVine, and Ball, helped them snap their seven-game losing streak. The loss marks the second consecutive defeat for the Nuggets, who were led by Jokic’s impressive performance.
Q: Who were the top scorers for the Bulls?
A: Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, and Lonzo Ball all scored in double figures for the Bulls.
Q: How did the Nuggets struggle?
A: The Nuggets struggled from 3-point range, going 6 for 27 from behind the arc.
Q: Who had a strong game for the Nuggets?
A: Nikola Jokic had 33 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds in his sixth triple-double in his last seven games.
