Bulls Dismantle Wizards in 138-105 Victory

The Chicago Bulls started the game strong, with Zach LaVine scoring 13 points and both Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith contributing seven points each. By the end of the first quarter, the Bulls were up by 10 points. Smith built on his momentum in the second quarter but had to go to the locker room after apparently rolling his ankle. He rode a stationary bike for a while but returned fairly quickly.

At that point, Wizards players Jordan Poole and Jared Butler began to find their rhythm, combining for 19 of the team’s 32 points in the quarter. It seemed as though the Wizards might pull ahead with a lead until Josh Giddey and Talen Horton-Tucker stepped up and helped the Bulls regain their first-quarter advantage.

The Bulls maintained their momentum after halftime. The starting trio of Coby White, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic combined for 32 points in the third quarter, while the Wizards struggled to regain their confidence on both ends of the court. Chicago quickly extended their lead in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach for Washington. Both teams opted to substitute their key starters with six minutes remaining in the game, indicating a blowout.

Although Zach LaVine extending his 30-point streak to five games was the highlight of the match, the Chicago Bulls as a team thoroughly dominated the Washington Wizards. Nikola Vučević scored 23 points on just 12 shot attempts, while Josh Giddey hit some crucial three-pointers and once again came close to a triple-double. Lonzo Ball quietly contributed with 12 points, sinking one three-pointer in each quarter. Fans also got to see rookie Matas Buzelis shine in garbage time with an impressive dunk on a fast break. It was an impressive victory for the Bulls, especially in the part of the season in which teams grow increasingly eager for the All-Star break.

What's On Tap Next?

The Chicago Bulls welcome back a familiar face in DeMar DeRozan as he returns to the United Center on Sunday, Jan. 12 with his new team the Sacramento Kings. Tip-off is at 2:30 p.m. CT and will air on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN).