Two weeks ago, the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets set a record for three-point futility, combining to miss 75 three-point attempts. Monday, the two teams needed an overtime period but matched the 75 misses in a 115-108 Bulls win.
The Bulls shot 18-of-60 from behind the three-point arc, while the Hornets went 10-of-43. Chicago's 42 missed three-pointers are tied for the sixth-most in NBA history. They missed 42 threes in a 143-107 loss to the Houston Rockets on Nov. 17, while they were on the winning end of a Dec. 19 game where the Boston Celtics missed 42 threes in a 117-108 Bulls win.
This is the second-most missed three-pointers by a winning team after a 2019 game where the Houston Rockets were 25-of-68 on threes in an overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
But in a game dominated by missed outside shots, there was a remarkable amount of clutch triples down the stretch. Miles Bridges (2-of-13 on threes Monday) sent the game to OT with a difficult late three.
MILES BRIDGES INSANE 3 TO TIE THE GAME AT 98...
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2024
1.5 SECONDS LEFT ON NBA LEAGUE PASS! pic.twitter.com/QyDTrxKU72
Then the Bulls got big shots in overtime from Torrey Craig, who was 5-of-7 from deep, and Patrick Williams, who shot 5-of-10.
TORREY IS ON FIRE @CHSN__ | @TCraig_23 pic.twitter.com/GJXlpnWCo7
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 31, 2024
Let it fly, Pat @CHSN__ | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/0SweI2VZbR
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 31, 2024
That hot shooting compensated for Coby White and Josh Giddey, who combined to shoot 2-of-20 from deep. For the Hornets, Seth Curry started hot, going 3-of-4 in the first half, but didn't make a shot in the game's final 37 minutes. He had 17 points in the first half, none in the second.
Seth Curry nails the stepback middy
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2024
He's got 17 in the 1H on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/i4IAVH7lym
With the Bulls ranked second in three-pointers made and taken this season, behind only the Celtics, they may well break their own record for misses this season. Still, they're seventh in the NFL with 117.6 points per game. It may look ugly at times, but bombing away from deep may be what's keeping the Bulls' offense afloat.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!