Nikola Jokic recorded 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds to pass Oscar Robertson for the second-most triple-doubles in NBA history as the Denver Nuggets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night at the United Center. Jamal Murray added 28 points and 11 assists, while Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 23 points off the bench as Denver shot an impressive 58% from the field and dominated inside with 60 points in the paint.
Chicago dropped to 24-29 with its fourth straight loss despite strong performances from Matas Buzelis, who led the Bulls with 21 points, and Collin Sexton, who added 17 points off the bench. The Bulls led 104-97 after closing the third quarter on a 16-2 run but completely unraveled in the fourth period, scoring just 16 points on 5-of-17 shooting as Denver outscored them 39-16 to pull away. The loss extended Chicago's struggles since the trade deadline as the reconfigured roster continues searching for cohesion without injured point guard Josh Giddey.
Fourth Quarter Collapse Dooms Bulls
The Bulls appeared poised to snap their losing streak after outscoring Denver 39-38 in a high-scoring third quarter and carrying momentum into the final period with a seven-point advantage. But Chicago's offense completely stalled as the team went the first six minutes of the fourth quarter without making a field goal. During that stretch, Denver seized control with a devastating 20-2 run that turned a 104-97 deficit into a 117-106 lead with 6:02 remaining.
Jokic and Julian Strawther capped the Nuggets' decisive surge with consecutive three-pointers, and the Bulls never recovered. Chicago managed just 16 points in the final frame, with only Matas Buzelis breaking through for six points while the remaining four starters were held scoreless. The Bulls shot just 29% in the period while turning the ball over four times, allowing Denver's superior execution and Jokic's playmaking brilliance to take over down the stretch. The fourth-quarter meltdown marked the latest in a troubling pattern for a Bulls team that has struggled to close games throughout their current losing streak.
Team Statistics
| Category | Bulls | Nuggets |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | 41-92 (45%) | 49-85 (58%) |
| Three Pointers | 20-51 (39%) | 16-33 (48%) |
| Free Throws | 18-20 (90%) | 22-33 (67%) |
| Rebounds | 37 | 41 |
| Assists | 25 | 37 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 13 |
| Points in Paint | 36 | 60 |
| Fast Break Points | 15 | 18 |
Retooled Roster Shows Growing Pains
The Bulls' trade deadline acquisitions continued their adjustment to Chicago's system with mixed results in their second game together. Anfernee Simons struggled with his shot, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting, though he did contribute six assists in 32 minutes. Jaden Ivey managed just 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting and was a team-worst minus-27 in 30 minutes, highlighting the defensive struggles that plagued Chicago all night against Denver's potent offense.
Buzelis provided a bright spot with his 21-point performance on 7-of-13 shooting, including four three-pointers, while Guerschon Yabusele chipped in 12 points and two rebounds in 26 minutes. The Bulls continue to miss the steady playmaking and floor leadership of Josh Giddey, who remains sidelined with a left hamstring strain alongside backup point guard Tre Jones. Chicago's recent trade deadline moves left the team with a guard-heavy roster thin on frontcourt depth, forcing head coach Billy Donovan to work with limited options as the team struggles to find defensive consistency and crunch-time execution.
Looking Ahead
The Bulls travel to Brooklyn on Monday night to face the Nets at 6:30 p.m. CT as they look to end their four-game skid. With a 24-29 record and sitting 15 games behind division-leading Detroit in the Central Division, Chicago faces an uphill climb to salvage anything meaningful from the remainder of the season. The continued absence of Giddey compounds the difficulties as the team tries to integrate its new pieces and establish an identity under Donovan.
Denver, meanwhile, returns home to host Cleveland on Monday night riding the momentum of ending its three-game road trip with a victory. Jokic's historic triple-doubleβhis 182nd of his careerβmoved him past Oscar Robertson into second place on the all-time list, trailing only Russell Westbrook's 207. The Nuggets improved to 34-19 and remain six games behind Oklahoma City in the competitive Northwest Division standings.