The Bulls stop the good run of the Nuggets

After trying the match against the Jazz where they lost in double overtimeThe Bulls played the second part of this back-to-back by traveling to Denver to challenge a Nuggets team with a seven-game winning streak before this meeting.

In the first quarter, Chicago can count on its bench to take control of the game while the Nuggets struggle to string together baskets such as 1/7 shooting from Nikola Jokic (36 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists) to start the game. Denver failed to make a field goal in the final two minutes of the first act, eventually falling behind 30-28.

The home team’s offensive drought continued in the second quarter, and the Bulls took advantage of that and took an 8-0 lead and took a ten-point advantage after the third winning basket. Jevon Carter (15 points, 4 rebounds, 5/10 from 3-point range). The timeout taken by David Adelman hasn’t stopped Chicago’s good momentum since then Jalen Smith (16 points, 8 rebounds) before making another shot from behind the arc Jamal Murray (34 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists) finally manages to score a basket in favor of Denver.

I Aio Dosunmu (21 points, 5 assists) makes another shot from behind the arc to give the Bulls a twelve point lead, Denver immediately begins to climb into the lead. First, he finds Nikola Jokić Aaron Gordon to get the Nuggets back within nine points, then Jamal Murray followed a mid-range layup to tie the score at 56-56. finally, Cam Johnson is credited with giving the advantage to Denver (59-58), a lead that the hosts maintain until the moment they return to the locker room (64-63).

The Bulls are back to winning ways

At the start of the second half, Nikola Jokic found Jamal Murray to confirm his triple-double just three minutes into the match. However, as was the case during the first period, Chicago can count on its bench to once again create a gap with the likes of Jaylen Smith going 2+1 to once again give the Bulls a ten-point lead.

To see Denver get back into the game, you have to wait until the last five minutes of the game where Cam Johnson puts Denver back within one (114-113). If Nikola Jokic hits his first 3-pointer tonight, Kevin Huerter responds to him as Ayo Dosunmu intercepts Jamal Murray’s pass and completes the counterattack with only a minute left (123-120).

Coming out of the timeout, Nikola Jokić brings Denver back to one point, but Nikola Vucevic responds with a long shot that gives Chicago a two-possession lead. However, the Nuggets did not immediately admit defeat and Jamal Murray made a complicated 3-point shot with just two seconds left. Aaron Gordon is then forced to foul Kevin Huerter, who isn’t shaking his free throws.

In the end, the Bulls won 130-127 and returned the victory after five losses. All while snapping the Nuggets’ seven-game winning streak.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

New triple-double for Nikola Jokić. If Joker got off to a poor start to his encounter with just one successful shot from his first seven attempts, he quickly adjusted his sights. In the first period, he let his versatility shine and came close to a triple-double when he entered the locker room, as his personal score already showed 13 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. His 10th assist would come early in the second half, and Nikola Jokic continued to torment the Bulls defense throughout the minutes to finish with 36 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists. Unfortunately, this time it was not enough to overcome Chicago.

Chicago Lifeguard Bench. Sans Coby Whiteit was easy to think the Bulls offense would suffer and that was the case until Billy Donovan made his first rotations. The trio of Ayo Dosunmu – Jalen Smith – Jevon Carter scored 52 of the Bulls’ 130 points. All three had their moments of glory when Chicago needed them. Jevon Carter put the Bulls on the right track when he entered the game at the start of the game. Jaylen Smith made it back in Chicago’s favor in the third quarter, while Ayo Dosunmu had Jamal Murray’s interception late in the game. On Denver’s side, the bench was less heavy in the matchup as it scored just seven points compared to Chicago’s 66 points.

End of streak for the Nuggets. This setback marks the end of the Nuggets’ seven-game winning streak, but also the third consecutive loss against Chicago. Last season, Denver lost two games against the Bulls and has yet to beat them this Monday. The two teams will meet again on February 7, this time at the United Center in Chicago.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.