NBA: Bulls heat up from long range, shoot past Nuggets

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (2) celebrates after a 3-point basket by guard Zach LaVine (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Zach LaVine scored 21 points and Nikola Vucevic produced 20 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Chicago Bulls to a 129-121 victory against the visiting Denver Nuggets in the NBA on Monday.

Seven players scored in double figures for Chicago, which shot 45.3 percent (24-for-53) from long range and overcame a triple-double from Denver’s Nikola Jokic.

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Lonzo Ball contributed 18 points for the Bulls, who had lost seven of their previous eight games. Ayo Dosunmu chipped in 17 while Dalen Terry (13), Josh Giddey (12) and Patrick Williams (11) followed.

The Nuggets drew within three points when Jamal Murray swished a jumper with 2:22 to go, but the Bulls held on, scoring eight of the game’s last 11 points. LaVine buried a pair of clutch 3-pointers down the stretch.

Jokic had 33 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds. Christian Bruan scored 28 points, Murray and Michael Porter Jr. both had 18 and Russell Westbrook added 14, but Denver took its second consecutive loss after an 8-1 stretch.

Giddey, who dished 10 assists, has registered a double-double in four straight games.

Chicago recovered from an earlier 12-point deficit with a 12-0 third-quarter run. A 30-8 spurt spanning the third and fourth quarters stretched the advantage to 108-96 with 9:17 remaining in the game.

Matas Buzelis punctuated the run with a fastbreak dunk off a Jalen Smith block at the other end and a Terry assist. Moments before, Terry contributed a running 3-pointer and putback layup.

Denver built a 68-61 halftime lead despite a big discrepancy in long-range shooting. The Bulls shot 12-for-26 from deep in the first 24 minutes compared to 3-for-10 for the Nuggets.

Trouble was, the Bulls also committed 11 turnovers in the first half, which led to 18 Denver points. The Nuggets also moved the ball efficiently, collecting 23 assists and 50 points in the paint before the break, as well as a 20-0 edge on the fastbreak.

Jokic led all players with 21 points and eight assists at intermission. Vucevic (11 points) and LaVine (10) scored in double figures for the Bulls before halftime.

Chicago stopped a two-game series losing streak. –Field Level Media