Bulls Crushed by Physical Raptors in Blowout Loss

Chicago's young stars struggle against Toronto's relentless defense

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:36am

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The Chicago Bulls were thoroughly outmatched and physically dominated by the Toronto Raptors in a 139-109 blowout loss on Wednesday night. Rookie forwards Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis struggled to make an impact against Toronto's stifling defense, with Buzelis failing to even attempt a shot in the first quarter before finishing with 19 points. The loss raises questions about the Bulls' ability to compete with more physical playoff-caliber teams, as well as head coach Billy Donovan's strict shot profile rules that have drawn recent criticism from guard Ayo Dosunmu.

Why it matters

The Bulls' lopsided defeat to the Raptors highlights the team's need to get tougher and more physical to compete with the Eastern Conference's elite squads. Chicago's young core of Giddey and Buzelis were overwhelmed, exposing their development gaps. The game also shines a light on the ongoing tension between Donovan's coaching style and his players' desire for more freedom.

The details

The Raptors jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, dominating the Bulls on both ends of the floor. Toronto's relentless defense stifled Chicago's offense, limiting Buzelis to zero shot attempts in the first quarter. While the rookie forward was able to score 19 points by the end of the game, the Bulls were never able to mount a serious comeback. Dosunmu's recent comments about Donovan's strict shot profile rules also added an interesting subplot, as the young guard voiced frustration with the limitations placed on the team's offensive freedom.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, March 19, 2026.

The players

Josh Giddey

A rookie forward for the Chicago Bulls who struggled to make an impact against the Raptors' physical defense.

Matas Buzelis

A rookie forward for the Chicago Bulls who failed to attempt a shot in the first quarter before finishing with 19 points.

Billy Donovan

The head coach of the Chicago Bulls, whose strict shot profile rules have drawn criticism from some of his players.

Ayo Dosunmu

A guard for the Chicago Bulls who recently voiced frustration with Donovan's coaching style and the limitations placed on the team's offensive freedom.

Toronto Raptors

The opposing team that thoroughly outmatched and physically dominated the Chicago Bulls in the blowout victory.

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What they’re saying

“We must get tougher and more physical to compete with the best teams in the East. This was an eye-opening loss that exposes areas we need to improve.”

— Billy Donovan, Head Coach, Chicago Bulls

“Coach's rules can be frustrating, but we have to find a way to play within the system and still be aggressive. It's a balance we're still working on.”

— Ayo Dosunmu, Guard, Chicago Bulls

What’s next

The Bulls will look to bounce back in their next game against the Miami Heat on Friday, March 21, 2026, as they try to prove they can compete with the Eastern Conference's top teams.

The takeaway

This blowout loss to the Raptors exposed the Bulls' need to get tougher and more physical to hang with the elite squads in the East. The team's young core struggled mightily, while the ongoing tension between the players and coach Donovan's strict system continues to be a point of concern.