Clippers Overpower Bulls 119-108 Despite Giddey's Triple-Double

Chicago's defensive struggles allow LA to dominate in the paint

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:03am

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The Chicago Bulls kept things close with the Los Angeles Clippers for much of the game, but ultimately fell 119-108 despite a strong performance from Josh Giddey, who recorded his fourth triple-double in six games. The Clippers' dominance in the paint, where they scored 70 points, proved too much for the Bulls to overcome.

Why it matters

This game highlighted some of the Bulls' ongoing defensive issues, as they struggled to contain the Clippers' drives to the rim and protect the paint. The loss also came on the backend of a back-to-back road trip, showing the team's fatigue against one of the NBA's hottest squads.

The details

The Bulls kept things close in the first half, even taking a brief lead in the second quarter. However, the Clippers pulled away in the second half, shooting 24-32 in the restricted area and finishing with 70 points in the paint. Kawhi Leonard and Bennedict Mathurin combined for 9-12 shooting from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to help seal the win. The Bulls' bench also struggled to match the Clippers' depth, with LA's reserves outscoring Chicago's 51-25.

  • The game took place on March 13, 2026.
  • The Bulls were playing the backend of a back-to-back road trip.

The players

Josh Giddey

The Bulls guard recorded his fourth triple-double in six games, finishing with 20 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds.

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers star helped seal the win, combining with Bennedict Mathurin to shoot 9-12 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

Bennedict Mathurin

The Clippers' bench player contributed to the team's 51-25 advantage in bench points over the Bulls.

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What they’re saying

“Asked about Clippers' 70 points in paint, Billy Donovan said the coaching staff has to do better job. Acknowledged the new roster but said attention to detail is off and that coaching staff has to do better job in drills with players.”

— K.C. Johnson, Reporter (Twitter)

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Bulls' ongoing defensive struggles, particularly in protecting the paint, which allowed the more experienced Clippers team to pull away. The loss also showed the impact of fatigue on the team's performance, as it came on the backend of a back-to-back road trip. The coaching staff will need to focus on improving the team's attention to detail and defensive execution in order to compete with the top teams in the league.