Brutal blowouts, embarrassing deficits and former stars torching their old team. Relive the Chicago Bulls' most forgettable defeats this season.
Given the season still has a few games left, this ranking, as I wrote in the title, isn't guaranteed. However, after the Chicago Bulls surrendered a staggering 51 points in the third quarter alone and dropped to Philadelphia 157-137 on Thursday night, I guess it's time to rank the most brutal defeats of this forgettable campaign.
In this Bulls’ season of struggles, large roster changes, and a perplexed direction moving forward, here are my takes on the team’s most brutal defeats.
5. Golden State Warriors 123-91 (Dec. 7, 2025)
At the United Center, the Bulls were thoroughly dismantled by a Warriors team finding its rhythm. Chicago trailed by 32 points in a lifeless performance that exposed their defensive fragility against elite ball movement. Not just the loss that marked Chicago’s seven-game skid, the margin represented one of the season's first truly embarrassing blowouts, foreshadowing struggles to come.
4. Charlotte Hornets 131-99 (Feb. 24, 2026)
This loss stung particularly because it came against a struggling Hornets team Chicago should have beaten. More painfully, it marked Coby White's return to the United Center wearing Charlotte blue. The Bulls were thoroughly outclassed by a team below them in the standings, trailing by 32 points in a performance that epitomized post-deadline dysfunction. Watching a former franchise cornerstone torch his old team added insult to injury.
Feb 24, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rob Dillingham (7) defends Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White (3) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images3. Toronto Raptors 139-109 (March 18, 2026)
The Bulls were overwhelmed from the opening tip, trailing by 27 points at halftime and never mounting any semblance of a comeback. Toronto's balanced offensive attack — led by its intimidating trio (Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes) — exposed Chicago's defensive weaknesses and lack of offensive firepower. The 30-point beatdown at home represented another low point in a season filled with them.
2. Miami Heat 143-107 (Nov. 21, 2025)
This early-season demolition saw the Heat score 143 points while the Bulls managed just 107 in the NBA Cup, drawing questions of whether this Play-In rival had really emerged as Chicago's mental hurdle. Miami's offensive explosion came during a stretch when Chicago was still supposedly competitive, making the 36-point disgrace particularly demoralizing.
1. Philadelphia 76ers 157-137 (March 25, 2026)
This aforementioned defeat added another layer to the Bulls’ embarrassing season. Philadelphia erupted for 51 third-quarter points — an unfathomable defensive collapse that explains all. Despite Chicago scoring 137 points themselves, they lost by 20 in a game that resembled a layup line more than NBA basketball. Following Paul George’s return and Joel Embiid’s 35-point dominance, the 76ers' 157 points represent the highest total surrendered by the Bulls all season, cementing this as the most humiliating defeat of their humiliating campaign.