The Bulls withstood Nikola Jokic's triple-double thanks to an incredible feat
The Chicago Bulls withstood Nikola Jokic's triple-double thanks to an incredible late-game feat that flipped the momentum and stunned the Denver Nuggets.
Jokic was his usual dominant self, carving up Chicago’s defense with a masterful all-around performance. The two-time MVP finished with a triple-double, piling up points in the paint, manipulating coverages with his passing, and controlling the glass. Denver played through him possession after possession, and for most of the night, it looked like that would be enough.
But Chicago refused to fold.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter, when the Bulls unleashed a decisive run built on relentless defense and unexpected heroics. Alex Caruso spearheaded the surge, hounding Denver’s guards, jumping passing lanes, and even switching onto Jokic in key possessions. His energy ignited the United Center crowd and disrupted Denver’s rhythm in a way box scores can’t fully capture.
On the offensive end, DeMar DeRozan delivered in vintage fashion. He repeatedly attacked mismatches, lived at the midrange, and calmly buried contested jumpers as the clock wound down. Zach LaVine complemented him with timely three-pointers, stretching Denver’s defense and punishing every overhelp toward DeRozan.
The incredible feat, though, was the Bulls’ collective defensive stand against Jokic in the final minutes. After allowing him to dictate the game for three quarters, Chicago started sending late, well-timed double teams, forcing the ball out of his hands without completely collapsing their coverage on Denver’s shooters. They held the Nuggets without a field goal for a crucial stretch, turning defensive stops into transition opportunities and free throws.
Chicago’s closing execution—on both ends—was something it has lacked in recent seasons. Against one of the league’s most composed late-game teams and its most unguardable centerpiece, the Bulls found a way to bend without breaking.
Jokic got his numbers. The Bulls got the win. And in a season where Chicago’s direction has been under the microscope, surviving a Jokic triple-double with a statement fourth quarter could be a meaningful step forward.
Jokic was his usual dominant self, carving up Chicago’s defense with a masterful all-around performance. The two-time MVP finished with a triple-double, piling up points in the paint, manipulating coverages with his passing, and controlling the glass. Denver played through him possession after possession, and for most of the night, it looked like that would be enough.
But Chicago refused to fold.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter, when the Bulls unleashed a decisive run built on relentless defense and unexpected heroics. Alex Caruso spearheaded the surge, hounding Denver’s guards, jumping passing lanes, and even switching onto Jokic in key possessions. His energy ignited the United Center crowd and disrupted Denver’s rhythm in a way box scores can’t fully capture.
On the offensive end, DeMar DeRozan delivered in vintage fashion. He repeatedly attacked mismatches, lived at the midrange, and calmly buried contested jumpers as the clock wound down. Zach LaVine complemented him with timely three-pointers, stretching Denver’s defense and punishing every overhelp toward DeRozan.
The incredible feat, though, was the Bulls’ collective defensive stand against Jokic in the final minutes. After allowing him to dictate the game for three quarters, Chicago started sending late, well-timed double teams, forcing the ball out of his hands without completely collapsing their coverage on Denver’s shooters. They held the Nuggets without a field goal for a crucial stretch, turning defensive stops into transition opportunities and free throws.
Chicago’s closing execution—on both ends—was something it has lacked in recent seasons. Against one of the league’s most composed late-game teams and its most unguardable centerpiece, the Bulls found a way to bend without breaking.
Jokic got his numbers. The Bulls got the win. And in a season where Chicago’s direction has been under the microscope, surviving a Jokic triple-double with a statement fourth quarter could be a meaningful step forward.
