Josh Giddey scored a career-high 32 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists, Nikola Vučević added 26 points, and the Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks 135-125 on Friday night at the United Center to stay undefeated for their best start in nearly three decades.
Ayo Dosunmu came of the bench to score 22 points with nine assists for the Bulls, who improved to 5-0 and are off to their best start since the 1996-97 season, when they opened 12-0 and went on to win the NBA championship.
Billy Donovan earned his 200th coaching win with the Bulls.
Jalen Brunson scored 29 points and OG Anunoby had 26 to help power the Knicks’ second-half comeback attempt. The Knicks cut their deficit to two points midway through the fourth quarter after trailing by 22 late in the second quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 10 rebounds despite playing with a right quad strain and landing hard on his hip in the third quarter. Mikal Bridges scored 23 points in the NBA Cup group play opener for both teams.
The teams relied heavily on 3-pointers, with the Bulls hitting 17 of 37 and Knicks converting 18 of 45. The Bulls outshot the Knicks overall from the floor, 53.6% to 49.5% .
The Bulls opened a 72-53 lead at the half, penetrating with crisp passing plays.
The Knicks went on a 23-9 run to start the third quarter and closed to 115-113 on Anunoby’s 3 with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter before Vučević and Giddey connected on key possessions to ice it.
Mitchell Robinson returned to the Knicks starting lineup after missing the first four games with a left ankle injury and had 11 rebounds. Guerschon Yabusele returned after sitting out one game with a sprained left knee.
Up next
Knicks and Bulls: The teams meet again Sunday in New York (6 p.m., CHSN).
