Chicago Bulls Deliver Magic on Derrick Rose’s Historic Night 114-111
You couldn’t have scripted a better ending for a night steeped in so much history. The United Center was already vibrating with a specific kind of electricity that only comes when a hometown hero returns, but the game itself threatened to spoil the party.
On a chilly Saturday evening in January, the Chicago Bulls didn’t just host the Boston Celtics; they hosted an exorcism of sorts, honoring the youngest MVP in league history, Derrick Rose, by sending his No. 1 jersey to the rafters. And fittingly, in a game that mirrored the rollercoaster of Rose’s career—full of explosive highs and heart-stopping tension—it ended with a moment of pure, unadulterated clutch performance.
Kevin Huerter, wearing that very same No. 1 jersey in tribute to Rose, found the ball in his hands with less than a second on the clock. He rose from the corner and buried a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that sent the United Center into pandemonium, securing a 114-111 victory over the Eastern Conference powerhouse Celtics.
A Poetic Finish from Kevin Huerter
The symbolism was almost too heavy to carry, yet Huerter wore it lightly. With the game tied at 111 after a furious Boston rally, the Bulls had one final chance to avoid overtime against the second-best team in the East.
The sequence was chaotic. Jaylen Brown had just silenced the crowd with a driving layup to tie the game with 14 seconds left. But coming out of the timeout, the Chicago Bulls executed perfectly. Huerter, who has been a steadying presence for this squad, didn’t hesitate. As the ball snapped through the net, the celebration wasn’t just about a regular-season win; it was a release of emotion for a franchise looking to reclaim its identity.
“It felt good,” is an understatement for a shot that extended the Bulls’ winning streak to four games, pushing them above .500 (23-22) and proving they can hang with the league’s elite.
Celebrating a Hometown Legend
Before the dramatics of the final buzzer, the night belonged to Derrick Rose. Seeing his banner ascend to join the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan, and Bob Love was a visceral reminder of what basketball means to this city. Rose wasn’t just a player for the Chicago Bulls; he was the heartbeat of the South Side, a symbol of “too big, too fast, too strong, too good” before injuries altered his trajectory.
The current roster seemed to feed off that legacy. There was a grit to their play, a refusal to fold when the Celtics, led by a scorching Jaylen Brown (33 points), came storming back from a deficit. To lose on Rose’s night would have felt like a betrayal of the toughness he represented. Instead, the team honored him the best way they knew how: by grinding out a win when their backs were against the wall.
Coby White and the Supporting Cast Step Up
While Huerter provided the heroics, Coby White provided the engine. White poured in 22 points, draining five 3-pointers and consistently breaking down the Celtics’ perimeter defense. His evolution into a reliable scorer has been one of the brightest storylines for the Chicago Bulls this season.
He wasn’t alone. Nikola Vucevic was a rock in the paint, tallying 16 points and dominating the glass. The depth of the Chicago Bulls was on full display, with Jalen Smith and sophomore Matas Buzelis each chipping in 14 points.
The return of Josh Giddey was another subplot that bodes well for Chicago’s playoff push. Though on a minutes restriction following a hamstring injury, Giddey’s presence stabilized the second unit. His stat line wasn’t eye-popping, but his ability to facilitate allowed White and Huerter to operate off the ball, creating the spacing necessary for that final, fateful play.
Surviving the Celtics’ Late Surge
It wouldn’t be a Chicago game without a little heart trouble. The Bulls led 111-109 in the closing minute but couldn’t seem to put the Celtics away. Boston, resilient as ever on the second night of a back-to-back, refused to go quietly. Jaylen Brown was a force of nature, refusing to let fatigue settle in, attacking the rim relentlessly.
When Brown tied the game with seconds remaining, the “here we go again” feeling began to creep into the 22,000 fans in attendance. But this Chicago Bulls team showed a maturity that has been missing in recent years. They didn’t panic. They didn’t isolate. They ran their set, trusted the pass, and trusted the shooter.
As the fans filed out into the Chicago night, the No. 1 banner hung high above the court, and the team that plays beneath it looked, for the first time all season, like they truly belonged in the conversation.
