Coach Tiago Splitter's Chicago Bulls showed impressive resolve in their second game of the 2026-27 NBA season, coming back from a 32-17 first quarter deficit to beat Taylor Jenkins' Milwaukee Bucks, 132-125.

Bulls fans saw just about everything they wanted to see from rookie Caleb Wilson and his teammates in the thrilling comeback victory as Splitter's team played up to its potential. 

Wilson's 21 points was second on the team behind veteran offseason pickup Norman Powell, and led to an ambitious postgame boast from the Bulls rookie and top five draft pick. 

Wilson had a rough outing in his team's road opener in Toronto, which led to the Bulls rookie vowing to sharpen his moves to avoid turnovers after he committed nine of them. 

Wilson cut down on his turnovers significantly in the Bulls' win over the Bucks, finishing with three on the night, a team high, but likely acceptable to coach Splitter. 

The Bulls rookie spoke with K.C. Johnson of Bulls on CHSN after the game during which he made an excited and ambitious boast. 

"We started off slow, and that's something we have to work on, but we just have to keep staying with it," Wilson said. "We can't give up 125 points over, so we just gotta focus on that, but we gonna be good." 

Wilson made big free throws down the stretch, finishing 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.

"I'm grateful for this opportunity...I'm gonna be the most focused and detailed player ever. It's time to work, so I'm excited for it," he added. 

The Bulls got a well-rounded effort including from their bench, which was led by 19 points from small forward Leonard Miller, 13 points from offseason trade pickup Buddy Hield and 12 points from guard/forward Isaac Okoro. 

Backup guard Tre Jones added 11 points and eight assists, picking up the slack for Josh Giddey, was has been bothered by a wrist injury lately. Jones played 24 minutes to 25 for the Bulls' starting point guard Giddey, showing the depth of Splitter's team, which impressed Wilson. 

"It was extremely important, paramount. We're all a team and we all have to get what we want together, so, having the bench guys step up is extremely big for us," Wilson said, turning his focus to the Bulls' Saturday home opener against the Washington Wizards at 8 p.m. ET. 

The Bulls have a player who talks a big game and knows how to back it up on the court. Wilson was wildly successful at tightening up his ballhandling skills and overall game heading into Friday's win, soon it will be time to see he responds against another talented, long and athletic young team in the Windy City.