Buzelis Sparks Late Rally as Depleted Bulls Outlast Magic 121-114

Friday night at the United Center was supposed to be a scheduled loss. Let’s be honest about the optics coming in: The Chicago Bulls were missing their offensive engine room. With Josh Giddey and Coby White both sidelined after taking knocks against Minnesota, the scoring load was up for grabs, and the rotation was thin.

But in the NBA, “next man up” is more than just a cliché plastered on a locker room wall; it’s a survival mechanism. And on a night where the Bulls desperately needed a spark, they found a bonfire in Matas Buzelis.

Buzelis, playing with a desperation and maturity that belied his experience, poured in 17 of his 21 points in the second half, willing Chicago to a gritty 121-114 victory over the Orlando Magic. With the game teetering in the balance and the clock ticking under 30 seconds, Buzelis calmly sank two free throws to push the lead to five. Moments later, he skied for his ninth rebound and had the presence of mind to find Isaac Okoro for a thunderous, game-sealing dunk with four seconds left.

It was the kind of sequence that turns a rotational player into a fan favorite.

Bulls Bench Step Up in Major Way

For Head Coach Billy Donovan, this win validates the depth the front office has tried to cultivate. You can’t replace the production of Giddey and White with one guy. It has to be a collective effort, and Friday night, the reserves were nothing short of spectacular.

The Bulls bench combined for a staggering 57 points, providing a lifeline when the starters struggled to find a rhythm early. Patrick Williams, who has oscillated between starter and reserve roles, looked comfortable and aggressive, leading the second unit with the kind of two-way impact Chicago has been waiting for.

That chip was evident. After falling into a 14-0 hole in the first quarter—a deficit that had the United Center groaning—the second unit stabilized the ship. They chipped away at the lead, playing with a frantic energy that Orlando struggled to match, eventually allowing Kevin Huerter (20 points) to tie the game at the half with a cutting layup.

Vucevic and Huerter Provide Veteran Stability

While the young guns provided the energy, the veterans provided the floor. Nikola Vucevic, facing his former team, was his usual reliable self. He finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, operating as the hub of the offense when the game slowed down in the half-court. His screening and passing opened up the lanes that Buzelis and Ayo Dosunmu (17 points) exploited in the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter was where the Bulls truly won this game. Trailing 95-91 entering the final frame, Chicago outscored Orlando 30-19 in the last 12 minutes. The defensive intensity ramped up, forcing turnovers and turning them into transition opportunities. It was a chaotic, beautiful mess of a quarter that saw 19 lead changes throughout the game, but when it mattered most, Chicago executed.

Magic Woes Continue Despite Banchero’s Brilliance

You have to feel for the Orlando Magic. They are a team that looks dangerous on paper, but can’t seem to catch a break with health. Paolo Banchero was a force of nature, dropping 31 points and looking unguardable for stretches, particularly in the first half, where he hit his first four shots. Anthony Black added 18, stepping up in the absence of Franz Wagner, who remains out with an ankle sprain.

But the injury bug bit again. Jalen Suggs, in only his second game back from a hip injury, went down late in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on his right knee. The silence from the Orlando bench was palpable. Suggs had been providing a much-needed spark, and his exit seemed to deflate the Magic just as the Bulls were finding their second wind.

For the Bulls, moving back to .500 (17-17) feels significant. This season has been a rollercoaster of inconsistency, but winning a game like this—undersized, undermanned, and trailing early—builds character. They host Charlotte on Saturday, and if they can bottle the energy from that fourth quarter, they might just be turning a corner.