Bulls Rally Late to Defeat Nuggets in Low-Scoring Affair

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The Chicago Bulls rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 65-58 in a slow-scoring contest. Nikola Jokic opened the game with a jumper to give Denver a 41-36 lead, but the Bulls answered with timely three-pointers from Rob Dillingham and Anfernee Simons to trim the gap. In the final minutes, Guerschon Yabusele hit a crucial three-pointer to put Chicago ahead 58-65, a lead they maintained to secure the victory.

Why it matters

The game highlighted the importance of limiting turnovers and securing defensive rebounds, as Denver's early advantage evaporated due to multiple possessions lost. Chicago's bench depth, particularly the contributions of Yabusele and Simons, proved decisive in the low-scoring affair.

The details

Midway through the second quarter, Nick Richards delivered a two-point running dunk for Denver, restoring a narrow lead at 41-38. Shortly after, Tim Hardaway Jr. converted a pair of free throws to push Denver ahead 44-41. The Bulls responded with a three-point shot from Dillingham (44-46) and a crucial three-point jumper from Simons at the 10:20 mark, tying the game at 42-41. Denver's offense stalled as turnovers mounted, with Bruce Brown losing the ball to a Nick Richards steal and Jokic committing a poor pass out of bounds. Meanwhile, Chicago's bench contributed, with Yabusele draining a three-pointer off an Isaac Okoro assist to give the Bulls a 58-65 lead with just over a minute remaining.

• Midway through the second quarter, Nick Richards delivered a two-point running dunk for Denver.
• Shortly after, Tim Hardaway Jr. converted a pair of free throws to push Denver ahead 44-41.
• The Bulls responded with a three-point shot from Dillingham (44-46) and a crucial three-point jumper from Simons at the 10:20 mark, tying the game at 42-41.