Vucevic's Heroic 35-Point Rescues Bulls in 128-126 Thriller Over Jazz

Nikola Vucevic played the hero, converting a last-second bank shot after Isaac Okoro’s desperate hustle ball save, lifting the Chicago Bulls to a narrow victory over the Utah Jazz.

Despite squandering a 12-point lead, the Bulls escaped the possible overtime in a thrilling 128-126 win over the Jazz to wrap up the back-to-back stretch. Though Utah unleashed a final push to tie the game, Chicago cruised through the pressure and accomplished its 14th clutch victory of the season.

Vucevic, the man of the night from Montenegro, posted a season-high 35 points (16 points in the fourth period), seven rebounds, and two blocks. Ayo Dosunmu followed with 15 points and six assists. Seven Bulls recorded double-digits in scoring.

On the guest side, Brice Sensabaugh dropped a career-high 43 points. Keyonte George and Kyle Fillipowski produced 25 and 19 points, respectively.

Vucevic sparked the Bulls early with pick-and-roll scoring and a seven-point surge, though the Jazz kept pace as Sensabaugh exploded for 21 first-quarter points. Despite defensive lapses on the perimeter, Chicago stayed competitive behind Jalen Smith’s four-point play and bench contributions from Patrick Williams, who went scorelessly on Tuesday in Houston, and Dalen Terry. 

Following a timeout, Dosunmu ignited the Bulls' offense with multiple triples. Matas Buzelis soared and added highlights at the rim, while Coby White had yet to break the scoring drought; he dished six assists and made two blocks before halftime. The starting guard then cruised for five points in the last four minutes as the Bulls' cushion significantly increased.

Although George and Sensabaugh, who broke his season-high (26 points) after a contested jumper, narrowed the gap for Utah, Smith closed out the rest of the minutes with a solid presence in the paint. Despite making through 22 lead changes, the Bulls secured a 71-62 advantage heading into the intermission.

Utah opened the second half with a spark as Filipowski scored five straight points, fueling a run that cut the Bulls' lead to five. After a Billy Donovan timeout, the Bulls responded with an Okoro triple, but sloppy play allowed Utah to briefly reclaim the lead. Chicago quickly rejuvenated through Williams, whose three-pointer and subsequent steal led to a Dalen Terry finish. Despite a late push by Utah, capped by a Kyle Anderson buzzer-beater, the teams headed into the final frame tied at 94.

The fourth quarter became a back-and-forth battle of wills. Vucevic dominated the paint with six straight points, while Dosunmu pushed the lead to double digits with a tough finish through contact. However, Utah refused to go away. George exploded for eight points in under a minute to tie the game at the free-throw line.

In the dying seconds, White’s potential game-winner rimmed out, but Okoro dove to save the ball. It found its way to Vucevic, who stayed composed to bank in the winning shot. Utah’s final attempt fell short, allowing the Bulls to escape with a frantic win and avoid overtime.

The Bulls will play the Brooklyn Nets on Friday (Jan. 16) at 6 p.m. CT.