Billy Donovan praises Nikola Vucevic’s work ethic after 126-124 win over Jazz
on wednesday Chicago Bulls avenged his own A 119-113 loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. They fought tooth and nail to defeat the Utah Jazz at home 128-126.
A significant factor was the performance of their 35-year-old big man, Nikola Vucevic. Not only did he finish with a season-high 35 points, but he found himself right place at the right time, Bulls on CHSN.
With 4.1 seconds left in the game, Vucevic received the ball thanks to two great saves by Isaac Okoro and Tre Jones. Kobe White missed a three-point attempt, and Okoro saved it on the inbounds along the baseline to find Jones. Then Jones was off balance and quickly fed it to Vucevic for the basket to break the tie at 126-126.
Something about Chicago athletes and flipping a coin with a game on the line…🥶 pic.tvitter.com/Vkdz9zkMsh
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) January 15, 2026
After, the head coach of the Bulls Billy Donovan gathered a lot of praise Vucevic for his work ethic, especially in the physical game on the road against Houston.
“He feels a deep responsibility to do his job, regardless of where he is physically,” Donovan said. “Now, I’m not saying anybody’s going to put him in danger, but if he’s not feeling great, he’s going to find a way to prepare for the game. I admire and respect him for that.”
Billy Donovan celebrates Nikola Vucevic’s work ethic after the Bulls’ 126-124 win over the Jazz in which Vooch hit the game-winning shot. pic.twitter.com/A8UPaHItuS
— Zachary Draves (@DravesZachari) January 15, 2026
Vucevic played in 38 games and averaged 16.4 points and 9.3 rebounds. With the win, the Bulls are 19-21 and will face the Brooklyn Nets at home on Sunday.
Nikola Vucevic is the hero at the end of the night.
On at least three separate occasions this season, it was “Vooch” who was clutch. Nov. 4 it is Vucevic hit a 3-pointer for the win capped by a 24-point comeback against the Philadelphia 76ers, 114-111.
Then on November 19, Vucevic converted on another game-winning long ball on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers, 122-121. After that, Vucevic hit his third game-winning 3-pointer against the lowly Washington Wizards on November 22, 121-120.
When the Bulls are in a jam, it’s Vooch who leads them to victory in dramatic fashion. At this point, they are happy to have him.
2026-01-15 04:20:00
