Chicago Bulls' Skid Hits Six as Jalen Brunson Makes History

Jalen Brunson lit up his former hometown team.

The former Chicagoland prep star scored 22 first-quarter points compared to the Bulls’ 21, and the New York Knicks demolished the Chicago Bulls, 135-105, on Wednesday.

Chicago’s loss extended its losing streak to six games.

Brunson finished with 33 points on 59% shooting, including 5-of-10 from behind the arc in 28 minutes. His ninth game of 30-plus points against the Bulls trails only Patrick Ewing (10) for most in Knicks franchise history.

It was Brunson’s 11th 20-point quarter as a member of the Knicks, a franchise record since the NBA began digitizing play-by-play data in 1996.

The Knicks tied their franchise high mark for points in a half with 84.

Tiago Splitter’s young Bulls squad was forced to go smaller from the five early. Jalen Smith exited the game 31 seconds into the second quarter with an apparent left-hand injury after fouling OG Anunoby and hitting the deck, and did not return.

Patrick Williams made his season debut in relief of Smith. Williams finished with four points, two assists and a blocked shot in just under 20 minutes.

Tre Jones and Jaylin Sellers led the Bulls with 14 points apiece off the bench. Sellers hit four of his seven three-point shots. Chicago’s backups accounted for 63 points, compared to the Knicks’ 53.

The Bulls scored 52 points in the paint, thanks in part to a lackluster stroke from distance. Chicago shot just 39% from the field, and a measly 23% from downtown. The team hit its first two three-pointers – from Josh Giddey and Smith – before missing its next 20. Sellers broke the drought late in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 30.

Chicago failed to get a shot attempt off in the paint in the first four minutes of regulation and did not connect on a layup until Isaac Okoro subbed in and made two field goals.

Chicago entered Wednesday’s game fifth in the NBA in three-point attempts (42.6 per game) despite shooting a league-worst 27.9% from downtown.

The Bulls set a franchise record with 15 different players scoring. Jordan Hawkins’ driving layup with four seconds left in regulation set the mark.

Defensively, Chicago hurt itself with indiscriminate shooting fouls, with 11 in the first half alone. New York shot 24-of-26 from the charity stripe through the first two frames, and 30-of-37 overall. Zach Collins committed two of his four first-half fouls on three-point attempts from Karl-Anthony Towns and Brunson.

Caleb Wilson set a league rookie mark with eight straight games with a steal and a three-point field goal made to start his career. Wilson finished with five points on just 2-of-12 shooting, five boards, and one steal.

The Bulls return home Sunday to face LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. Tip-off is set for 2:30 CT on CHSN and 104.3 The Score.