Matas Buzelis scored 27 points, and Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic both notched double-doubles to help the surging Chicago Bulls defeat the visiting Sacramento Kings 126-113 on Wednesday.
At 4-0, the Bulls have matched their best start since 2021-22.
Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Kings shot 53.1% but were just 7-for-28 (25%) from beyond the arc. Sacramento lost its third straight game despite 30 points from Zach LaVine in his return to Chicago.
The Bulls connected on 53.8% of their shots and led by as many as 17 in the fourth quarter.
Giddey contributed 20 points and 12 assists while Vucevic added 13 points to go with 14 rebounds and seven of the Bulls’ season-best 34 assists.
Kevin Huerter (18 points), Tre Jones (11) and Jalen Smith (10) also finished in double figures for the Bulls.
DeMar DeRozan scored 19 points for the Kings. Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds while Malik Monk (15 points) and Russell Westbrook (12) also were double-figure scorers.
Sacramento’s Dennis Schroder dished seven assists.
Chicago outscored Sacramento 39-27 in the third quarter to take a 101-91 lead into the fourth. The Bulls shot 65.4% in the quarter compared to 40% for the Kings while collecting 26 points in the paint.
Buzelis and Vucevic both contributed eight points in the third, with Buzelis twisting through defenders in the closing seconds to punctuate the quarter with a dunk.
Sacramento surged ahead 60-48 on a LaVine dunk with 3:15 to go in the second quarter after trailing by as many as 12 points early.
Fueled by defense and rebounding, the Bulls responded with a 14-4 run to close the quarter to draw within 64-62 at the break. Buzelis led all scorers with 17 points in the first half while LaVine scored 16.
Chicago paid tribute to LaVine with a video montage midway through the first quarter.
LaVine played 416 games over parts of eight seasons with the Bulls. Wednesday marked his first game at United Center since Chicago dealt him to Sacramento in February as part of a three-team trade that brought Huerter, Jones and Zach Collins to the Bulls.
The Bulls have won three of their last four against the Kings.
–Field Level Media
