Philadelphia’s unfathomable collapse against the Bulls makes NBA history

The The Philadelphia 76ers suffered one of the most baffling collapses league has ever seen on Tuesday night, falling 113-111 to the Chicago Bulls in a game that will be remembered not for how it started, but for how it unfolded. According to NBA statistics, the Sixers have become first team in league history to score 45 or more points in the first quarter and 75 or more by halftime, but still finish the night with less than 40 points in the second half and lose.

What looked like a statement win for a team that had gotten off to a strong start turned into a stunning historical footnote.

Philadelphia opened the night hot, winning 45-27 after one quarter and leading by as many as 24 points early in the third. Tyrese McKay continued his early-season star streak, finishing with 39 points and repeatedly targeting the Bulls in transition and off the dribble.

Joel Embiid scoring 20 points in just 26 minutes, he appears to be well on his way to another efficient night. But the glow quickly faded. Embiid shot just 1 of 10 in the second half, struggling as Chicago adjusted, collapsed defensively and challenged others to beat them.

BULLS COME BACK BY 24 POINTS TO BEAT THE 76ERS 😱 pic.twitter.com/UV2MRRdpkF

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 5, 2025

Meanwhile, the Bulls, who were without key guards Kobe White and Ayo Dosunmu, refused to quit. Josh Giddei calmed the attackbut it was Nikola Vucevic who delivered the final dagger. Trailing 111-110 with 14 seconds left and the ball, Chicago ran through Giddy to draw attention before Vucevic broke free on the perimeter.

His three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left capped the biggest comeback win of the NBA season and sent United Center into chaos.

Philadelphia still had a chance to run away, creating a sharp final look. Embiid set a clean screen to get Quenton Grimes through on the right wing, but the open three rattled as time expired.

The Sixers, now 5-2, will look to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers. For a team with legitimate aspirations, Tuesday’s collapse will stick not just because of the stakes involved, but because the numbers say the NBA has never seen anything like it.