The Chicago Bulls clinched their place in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament with a 137-118 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
Coby White led Chicago with 28 points, while Talen Horton-Tucker added 27 off the bench. Nikola Vucevic contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, shooting 9-for-12 from the field.
The Raptors, who were eliminated from play-in contention with the loss, were paced by Ja’Kobe Walter and Immanuel Quickley, who each finished with 17 points. Quickley also dished out nine assists.
Chicago took control late in the first quarter and never trailed again. After falling behind by 10 early, the Bulls responded with a 30-13 run to close the period, seizing a 39-32 advantage.
By halftime, Chicago extended its lead to 70-57, powered by 18 second-half points from Horton-Tucker. The Bulls pushed their advantage to as much as 28, capitalizing on a decisive 10-0 third-quarter run.
Vucevic played a key role in that stretch, scoring six points while White added four. Chicago outscored Toronto 32-22 in the third, ensuring the game never got close down the stretch.
White finished with an efficient 10-of-16 shooting line and added six assists in 34 minutes.
Chicago controlled the interior, outscoring the Raptors 70-44 in the paint while winning the rebounding battle 49-35. The Bulls also excelled at the free-throw line, converting 23 of 27 attempts compared to Toronto’s 10-for-11.
Josh Giddey recorded a near triple-double with 17 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds. Kevin Huerter added 16 points, while Patrick Williams and Zach Collins combined for 14 points and 15 rebounds off the bench.
For Toronto, Scottie Barnes struggled, shooting 4-for-14 on his way to nine points. Jakob Poeltl finished with 12 points and five rebounds, while Orlando Robinson contributed 13 points off the bench.
The Raptors had entered the game riding a four-game winning streak and had won six of their last 10. However, the loss officially ended their bid for a play-in spot.
Chicago now sits at 34-42, locked into 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bulls will now focus on preparing for the play-in tournament as they aim to secure a postseason berth.
