Bulls Outlast Hawks in Historic Offensive Showdown 152-150
If you bought a ticket to see defense at State Farm Arena between the Hawks and Bulls on Sunday night, you were in the wrong place. But if you wanted to see a shootout that felt more like a video game than a regulation NBA contest, you got your money’s worth.
In a game that shattered season highs and pushed scoreboards to their limits, the Chicago Bulls escaped Atlanta with a breathless 152-150 victory over the Hawks. It was the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, a frantic, back-and-forth affair that wasn’t decided until the final buzzer sounded.
For Chicago, it wasn’t just about the win; it was about the way they won. This wasn’t a victory carried by one superstar putting the team on his back. It was a collective explosion.
Buzelis Has a Career Night from Deep
While the box score is littered with eye-popping numbers, the story of the night was Matas Buzelis. The young forward looked completely unconscious from beyond the arc, pouring in 28 points on razor-sharp efficiency. Buzelis finished 10-of-11 from the field, including a staggering, career-high seven 3-pointers on just eight attempts.
Every time the Hawks tried to close the gap or seize momentum, it seemed like Buzelis was there to answer. His confidence was palpable, providing the Bulls with a spacing threat that opened up the floor for everyone else. When a player is shooting with that kind of rhythm, it changes the entire geometry of the offense, and Chicago took full advantage.
A frantic finish in Atlanta
Despite Chicago’s offensive brilliance, they couldn’t shake the Hawks. Trailing late, Atlanta mounted a furious charge led by Jalen Johnson and Trae Young. The tension in the building peaked with just five seconds remaining on the clock.
Johnson, who was spectacular all night, drilled a clutch 3-pointer that cut the deficit to a single point, 151-150, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The Bulls were forced to inbound the ball under immense pressure. Buzelis was fouled with 4.2 seconds left and went to the line with a chance to ice it. He made one of two, leaving the door slightly ajar.
That gave Trae Young, one of the league’s most dangerous closers, a chance to win it at the buzzer. Young created space for a jumper as time expired, but the shot wouldn’t fall, allowing the Bulls to exhale and escape with the victory.
Complete Team Effort Powers Chicago
The stat sheet for the Bulls looks like a misprint. For just the fourth time in franchise history, nine different Chicago players scored in double figures. That level of balance is nearly impossible to defend. When the defense collapses on one guy, three others are ready to score.
Josh Giddey was the maestro conducting this symphony. He orchestrated the offense beautifully, finishing with 19 points and dishing out 12 assists. His ability to push the pace and find open shooters was the catalyst for Chicago’s 41 total assists—a season-high mark that speaks volumes about the ball movement.
Coby White, who was listed as questionable with a sore left ankle coming into the contest, showed grit by suiting up and dropping 21 points. His toughness set a tone. The Bulls shot 57.6% from the field and 47.6% from three-point land, numbers that usually result in a blowout, not a two-point nail-biter.
Young and Johnson Carry the Load for Atlanta
You have to feel for the Hawks. Scoring 150 points in regulation usually guarantees a win, but their defense simply couldn’t get a stop when it mattered.
Trae Young was his usual dynamic self, posting a season-high 35 points to go along with nine assists. But the standout for Atlanta was Jalen Johnson, who led the team with 36 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson was a force, keeping the Hawks alive almost single-handedly at times. Onyeka Okongwu chipped in 23 points, and Vit Krejci added 20, but the absence of Kristaps Porzingis—missing his sixth straight game with an illness—left a hole in the middle that Chicago exploited all night.
Rewriting the Record Books
This game will be remembered for the sheer volume of buckets. The Bulls came out of the gate hot, dropping 83 points in the first half alone to set a season record for points in a half. They didn’t let up, finishing with 152, which tied for the second-most points in regulation in franchise history.
It was a crucial bounce-back performance for the Bulls, who needed this road win to build momentum. Beating a team like the Hawks in their own building, especially in a game where the opponent shoots 52% from the floor, requires resilience.
The two teams won’t have to wait long to run it back. The Hawks host the Bulls again on Tuesday night at State Farm Arena. If Sunday was any indication, fans might want to get there early—and maybe bring a calculator.
