The Chicago Bulls secured a dramatic 132-124 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night at United Center, with Matas Buzelis delivering the decisive basket in the final seconds.
Buzelis drove for a go-ahead layup with 10.2 seconds remaining, completing Chicago’s late-game response after Houston erased a large deficit in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls improved to 29-42 with the win. Houston dropped to 43-28 and remained sixth in the Western Conference standings.
Chicago built early control behind a high-powered opening quarter.
The Bulls scored a season-high 41 points in the first period and stretched the lead to as many as 22 points during the first half. That early offensive surge allowed Chicago to withstand Houston’s comeback push later in the game.
Collin Sexton led the Bulls with 25 points off the bench, including 17 in the first quarter. The guard attacked early in transition and consistently created pressure at the rim.
Buzelis finished with 23 points and knocked down five three-pointers before his late-game drive decided the contest. Leonard Miller added 17 points and nine rebounds to provide interior support.
Josh Giddey produced a balanced performance with 15 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds, orchestrating Chicago’s offense throughout the night. Tre Jones and Jalen Smith also scored 15 points each, with Smith tying his season high despite playing only 26 minutes after returning from an ankle injury.
Chicago shot 50% from the field and 50% from three-point range, converting 19-of-38 attempts from deep while recording 30 assists as a team.
Houston mounted its comeback in the second half after trailing by 17 at halftime.
The Rockets briefly took control when Jabari Smith Jr. connected on a three-pointer with 5:56 remaining, giving Houston its first lead since early in the game.
Kevin Durant carried the offensive load for Houston with a game-high 40 points on 15-of-23 shooting. The veteran forward scored 15 points in the fourth quarter and extended his streak to nine consecutive games shooting at least 50% from the field.
Alperen Sengun delivered an efficient performance with 33 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, registering a triple-double while shooting 16-of-19 from the field.
Amen Thompson contributed 23 points, but Houston struggled from long range, shooting 11-of-41 from three-point distance.
The game ended with added tension when Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was ejected after receiving his second technical foul with 9.1 seconds left.
Houston had entered the game with two straight wins after inserting Reed Sheppard into the starting lineup, but the guard finished 3-of-14 from three-point range.
The loss, combined with San Antonio’s win over Miami earlier in the night, allowed the Spurs to clinch the Southwest Division.
Houston will continue its road trip Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Chicago travels to face the Philadelphia 76ers.
