Coby White’s Hot Hand Ignites Bulls’ Record-Tying Night in Blowout Win 138-110
Sometimes, the rim just looks like the ocean.
For Coby White, that feeling is becoming a familiar one. On a Tuesday night in the Windy City, where everything seemed to click for the home team, White led a barrage that left the surging Los Angeles Clippers dazed, confused, and ultimately defeated.
The Chicago Bulls, fueled by White’s 27 points and a franchise-record-tying performance from beyond the arc, dismantled the Clippers 138-110 at the United Center. It was a statement win, one that felt like an exhale for a team that has been battling inconsistency all season.
“You always want to hit seven [threes],” White said after the game, referencing his season-high performance against Brooklyn just days prior.
Fell they did. The Bulls connected on 25 of 47 attempts from three-point range, matching a franchise record. It wasn’t just White doing the damage; it was a collective assault. Matas Buzelis poured in 21 points, while Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter added 18 and 14, respectively. Each of them knocked down four triples, stretching the Clippers’ defense until it snapped.
Bulls Stun Clippers with Dominant Second Quarter
The game was tightly contested early, with the Clippers looking every bit the team that had won six straight and 13 of their last 15. But the second quarter changed everything.
Chicago erupted for 45 points in the period, matching a season high. It was a blur of ball movement, sharp shooting, and defensive intensity that Los Angeles simply couldn’t match.
Nikola Vucevic, who finished with a sturdy 19 points and eight rebounds, sparked the run that blew the game open. Trailing 37-36, Vucevic dropped in a hook shot that ignited a 22-6 surge. By the time Ayo Dosunmu capped the run with back-to-back threes, the United Center was rocking, and the Bulls held a commanding 58-43 lead.
They took a 21-point cushion into the locker room at halftime, 70-49, leaving the Clippers searching for answers they wouldn’t find.
Clippers Struggle Without Leonard
The absence of Kawhi Leonard loomed large for Los Angeles. The six-time All-Star missed his third straight game nursing a sprained right ankle and a bruised left knee. Without their defensive anchor and offensive focal point, the Clippers looked disjointed.
James Harden tried to pick up the slack, leading the visitors with 24 points. John Collins added 23 and matched his own season high with five three-pointers, but it was empty calories on a night where Chicago’s offense was feasting.
The Clippers showed a brief pulse in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to six points at 80-74 midway through the frame. For a moment, it looked like the “surging” Clippers might have one more run in them.
But the Bulls slammed the door shut with authority.
Chicago Closes the Door
Tre Jones, orchestrating the offense, hit a floater that started a decisive 17-3 run. The sequence was punctuated by a Kevin Huerter fastbreak layup that pushed the lead back to 20 at 97-77. From there, it was cruise control for Billy Donovan’s squad.
“I thought we shared the ball really well,” Donovan said. “I thought we generated good shots. I felt we were a little bit more active with our hands. That was all good.”
It was more than good; it was necessary. The Bulls, sitting at 21-22, are fighting for positioning in a crowded Eastern Conference. Beating a quality opponent like the Clippers—even without Leonard—injects a dose of confidence into a locker room that needs it.
For the Clippers (19-24), the loss snaps a streak but serves as a reminder of their fragility without their superstar. They’ll look to bounce back when they host the Lakers on Thursday.
The Bulls, meanwhile, will try to keep the momentum rolling as they visit Minnesota on Thursday, hoping that the ocean-sized rim travels with them.
