Nikola Vucevic drilled a go-ahead corner 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left and Josh Giddey recorded his second straight triple-double as the host Chicago Bulls rallied for a 113-111 win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.
Vucevic’s trey gave the Bulls their lone lead of the night and capped a comeback from a 24-point deficit. Chicago trailed by 13 points with 10 minutes left and by nine midway through the fourth quarter.
Philadelphia missed its final 11 shots and scored just 36 second-half points.
Giddey contributed 29 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists for the Bulls, while Vucevic had 19 points and 10 boards. Chicago’s Isaac Okoro (16 points), Jalen Smith (14), Kevin Huerter (12) and Matas Buzelis (10) also scored in double figures.
The 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 39 points while drilling six 3-pointers, and Joel Embiid added 20 points.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 18 points for Philadelphia. VJ Edgecombe logged 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Quentin Grimes had 10 points.
Chicago finished plus-8 on the glass.
Embiid registered four of Philadelphia’s 11 blocked shots.
Missing reserve guard Ayo Dosunmu (left quad contusion) for a second straight game, the Bulls struggled early with defensive depth and energy.
Philadelphia wound up shooting 42.6% from the floor compared to 47.2% for Chicago.
The 76ers built an early cushion after a scorching first quarter that saw the team shoot 64%, including an 8-for-11 showing from long range.
Maxey, recognized Monday as Eastern Conference Player of the Week, went 4-for-6 from 3-point distance in the first quarter to help Philadelphia build a 45-27 lead.
While the 76ers leveled off in the second quarter, shooting just 45.8%, they took a 75-56 advantage into the locker room as Maxey (22 points) and Embiid (18) shined.
Chicago trimmed the deficit to single digits with a 19-8 run late in the third quarter, getting seven points apiece from Giddey and Huerter.
Philadelphia guard Jared McCain had no points, one rebound and two assists in 15:09 in his season debut. The game marked his first since December, when the then-rookie sustained a torn left meniscus. McCain tore a ligament in his right (shooting) thumb during the preseason.
The Bulls improved to 5-0 at home this season and have won three straight against the 76ers. Philadelphia has dropped two of its past three games since starting the campaign 4-0.
–Field Level Media
