Overview
- Chicago edged Portland 122-121 on Nikola Vucevic’s winning 3 at the horn after Coby White hit a clutch triple with 9.1 seconds left.
- Portland erased a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to briefly lead 119-116, but two missed late free throws preceded the Bulls’ final surge.
- Deni Avdija posted a 32-11-11 triple-double, Jerami Grant scored 33, and Donovan Clingan added 17 points and 21 rebounds for the Blazers.
- Portland’s absences stacked up: Shaedon Sharpe sat with right calf soreness and underwent an MRI, while Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams III and Blake Wesley were also out; Grant returned from illness.
- The Bulls’ bench overwhelmed Portland 65-20, one night after Phoenix handled the Blazers 127-110 behind a season-high 63 bench points and 19 steals despite missing Jalen Green and Grayson Allen.