Anyone who was still a doubter of the Chicago Bulls great start to the 2025-26 season surely became a believer on Friday night. A full strength New York Knicks came into the United Center for Chicago's first NBA Cup game of the year, and left with a 10-point loss.
Anyone who was still a doubter of the Chicago Bulls great start to the 2025-26 season surely became a believer on Friday night. A full strength New York Knicks came into the United Center for Chicago's first NBA Cup game of the year, and left with a 10-point loss, as the Bulls won 135-125 in an overall great effort from the team.
There is obviously still a lot of basketball to be played, but Josh Giddey has done an excellent job proving that last season's post-All-Star break surge was real.
Giddey has been great filling in as a scorer in the absence of last year's leading Bulls scorer Coby White, including the first 30-point game of his time as a Chicago Bull--he finished with a career-high 32 points--in the win vs. New York.
Giddey attacked the basket repeatedly, creating an advantage for himself or his teammates on almost every drive. He finished with 6 free throw attempts (4 makes), 10 defensive rebounds, 9 assists, and no turnovers, in an almost flawless performance sans a few defensive lapses.
Chicago has averaged 30+ assists per game over their season-opening, five-game win streak. The Bulls excellent passing has been the signature of their egoless team that succeeds through defense, rebounding, and an up-tempo, egalitarian offense spearheaded by the playmaking prowess of Giddey and Tre Jones.
The Bulls proved that they continue to be serious about physicality, finishing with a 54-38 advantage in points in the paint. Chicago also managed to keep a Knicks team that loves to get to the free throw line in check in that area, with New York star Jalen Brunson finishing with a mere five free throw attempts on the night.
Chicago is firing on all cylinders to the start the season. The defense was elite to start the year, and continues to hold up behind contesting shots, rebounding, and keeping opponents off the free throw line. The Bulls offense was looking average to start, but they look to be trending in the right direction on that end following Friday night's 135-point performance that saw them shoot 53.6% from the field. The Bulls have no reason to fear any matchup with the brand of winning basketball that they are playing right now. Chicago gets a rematch against the Knicks in a road matchup on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. For now, Chicago gets to celebrate their first 5-0 start since the 1996-97 season.
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