The 'Cardiac Bulls' Are (Kind of) Back

Michael Walton II

Oct 23, 2025, 06:00

Michael Walton II

Oct 23, 2025, 06:00

Updated at: Oct 23, 2025, 06:00

The Bulls didn't dominate the final frame of their season-opening win over the Detroit Pistons, but they certainly kept things interesting down the stretch of an exciting win. Are they ready to close out clutch time games in the 2025-26 season?

If the Chicago Bulls opening night win over the Detroit Pistons is representative of the season ahead, it's safe to say that the 'Cardiac Bulls' are (kind of) back. The qualifier in the previous sentence is because the Bulls didn't dominate the fourth quarter, but it's fair to call them an exciting team after they managed to hang on to secure a hard-fought win that they almost let slip away.

Chicago was outscored 32-21 in the fourth quarter, but can thank their frontcourt, and Josh Giddey's free throw shooting down the stretch for their first clutch win of the 2025-26 season.

Last season Chicago had their fair share of close calls, going 17-17 in clutch games last season. The NBA qualifies clutch time as games where the score is within 5 or less points in the last 5 minutes of the 4th quarter or overtime. The elite teams in the league routinely win around 60% of their clutch games. No one expects the Bulls to be an elite team, but getting to above average in winning percentage in clutch games would be a big step in the right direction for the young Bulls core.

Matas Buzelis was excellent in stepping up his scoring output in the absence of Coby White. Buzelis racked up 21 points on 7-12 shooting. The second-year forward didn't hit any of his trio of 3-point attempts, but collected 3 blocks, and was 7-7 from the free throw line.

While the Bulls young talent certainly was crucial in the win, it's fair to say that Nikola Vucevic was the MVP of the night. Vucevic finished the night with a game-high 28 points, including 4-6 shooting from 3-pt range, and a game-high 14 rebounds. The Bulls PF-C duo of Buzelis and Vucevic quite literally carried them down the stretch offensively. Performing the way they did in the absence of Coby White bodes well for the Bulls chances in closes games this season.

In the fourth quarter Vucevic and Buzelis combined to shoot 7-12 from the field, scoring 14 of the Bulls 21 fourth quarter points. Vucevic had perhaps the most crucial bucket of the game that won't be remembered. With the Bulls ahead five points with just over four minutes left, Vucevic knocked down a midrange jumper with the shot clock winding down following some excellent late-game ball movement. He went on to hit a floater to break a 105-105 tie, and another floater to break a 109-109 tie with just over a minute left.

That short range floater shot was working all night for Vucevic, and it made up the majority of his game-sealing offense on Wednesday night. While the Bulls frontcourt powered them to the win, Giddey deserves credit for sealing it. The Bulls won a great late-game challenge by Billy Donovan that gave Giddey a pair of free throws that he sank to give Chicago a three-point lead. Overall, Giddey went 8-11 from the free throw line, with six of those free throws coming in clutch time. Giddey, Buzelis, and Vucevic formed a capable "Big 3" in the opening night win.

At Bulls Media Day, Vucevic talked about "feeling young," and Buzelis talked about wanting to win the Most Improved Player Award. Both of those things looked true on Wednesday night. If the Bulls can continue to ride the scoring of their frontcourt duo down the stretch of close games, it's safe to say that they will improve their record in clutch games and outperform expectations.

The 'Cardiac Bulls' Are (Kind of) Back