By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Chicago Bulls played a major spoiler after preventing the Washington Wizards from halting their month-long NBA regular season losing streak on November 27, 2024.
With the lopsided 127-108 victory, Chicago just handed the Wizards their 12th consecutive loss, the longest losing streak in the ongoing NBA regular season.
Washington had a chance to capitalize on Chicago’s early missed shots and built an eight-point advantage after the opening quarter, 29-21, but the Bulls stormed back in the following period with a demoralizing 40-18 scoring run.
As a result of the beating, the tables turned quickly after the first half as Chicago held a comfortable 14-point lead heading into the last two quarters.
The Wizards tried to revert to their scoring schemes that helped them take the lead in the first by going to their star, Kyle Kuzma, but the Bulls saw it coming and pinned him down during his elbow isolations.
What hurt Washington the whole game was Chicago’s point of attack in the shaded lane, allowing them 60 markers in the paint and eight second-chance points.
The Bulls also out-ran the Wizards as they dominated the fast break department with 25 points compared to Washington’s 18.
Washington showed some signs of life midway through the fourth after draining back-to-back treys that trimmed their deficit to just 15 points but the Bulls answered back with buckets from Nikola Vucevic and Coby White.
The duo steered Chicago to a consistent offensive performance in the second half, with Vucevic schooling the Washington defenders underneath while White hoisted some timely three-pointers that answered every field goal from the Wizards.
Vucevic tallied another impressive double-double for the Bulls with 19 points and 12 rebounds while White top-scored the squad with 21 markers built from five three-pointers.
On the other hand, Kuzma became the leading scorer of the game with 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists but his personal offensive heroics fell short in breaking through Chicago’s balanced attack.
