Zach LaVine poured in 31 points, and Coby White sealed the victory with clutch free throws in the closing seconds as the Chicago Bulls narrowly defeated the New York Knicks 124-123 on Wednesday night.
Chicago led by as many as 22 points in the third quarter, appearing to have control of the game, but the Knicks mounted a comeback, erasing the deficit with a late surge.
Jalen Brunson’s go-ahead basket with four seconds left gave the Knicks a brief 123-121 advantage, but White was fouled on the following possession by Josh Hart on a 3-point attempt, sinking all three free throws to put the Bulls back in front.
Brunson, who ended the night with 24 points, had a chance to win it for New York, but his final shot rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.
Nikola Vucevic provided valuable support for Chicago, scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, while LaVine’s strong performance helped Chicago improve to a 5-7 record.
White, who finished with 22 points, showcased his composure in the game’s most critical moment, converting his free throws under immense pressure.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with a season-high 46 points and added 10 rebounds, putting up a dominant showing that nearly completed the comeback. His efficient night from the field, going 18-for-30, kept New York within striking distance even as Chicago built a significant lead.
Despite their efforts, the Knicks, now 5-6, couldn’t overcome the Bulls’ timely scoring and defensive stops.
Mikal Bridges contributed 20 points, and Hart grabbed eight rebounds but missed the crucial defensive play that allowed White to get to the line.
Chicago’s bench provided crucial minutes, with Ayo Dosunmu adding 16 points and strong defensive play.
The Knicks, playing the second game of a back-to-back after defeating Philadelphia on Tuesday, showed resilience by cutting into the Bulls’ lead, especially with a 17-0 run that ended the third quarter and brought them back into contention.
