The Chicago Bulls entered their matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers knowing this could be their toughest test yet, facing the only other Eastern Conference team with just a single loss six games into the season. What they didn’t know was just how quickly that test would come at them.
The Chicago Bulls historic 24-point comeback
Midway through the second quarter, the Bulls were down 24 points and seemed headed for their worst loss since late last season. And it only got worse. With 6:48 remaining in the third quarter, ESPN’s win probability gave Chicago just a 1 percent chance to win. One singular percent.
Then, the energy in the United Center flipped completely.
Josh Giddey took over. Nikola Vucevic steadied the team in true veteran fashion. Isaac Okoro and Matas Buzelis brought a defensive intensity that helped hold the 76ers to just 16 points in the fourth quarter, slowing down Tyrese Maxey’s seemingly effortless scoring and shot creation.
And with just 3.2 seconds left on the clock, the Bulls completed one of the most improbable comebacks in recent memory.
And “improbable” isn’t an exaggeration. This was Chicago’s largest comeback in over four years, when they overcame a 25-point deficit against the Detroit Pistons in February 2021. It’s also tied for the third-largest comeback in franchise history.
Fun fact: Three of the four times the Bulls have rallied from a 24-point deficit have come against the 76ers.
“Whenever you come back down 20-something and win the game, it’s big, especially against a team like Philly who’s been playing great so far,” Vucevic said after the game, per Jamal Collier of ESPN. “I think it showed the resilience we have, the belief we have, the togetherness we have.”
Resilience would be an understatement.
Josh Giddey put his name alongside Michael Jordan
What Josh Giddey is doing to open the season is nothing short of incredible, either. His triple-double last night made him the first Bulls player since Michael Jordan to achieve triple-doubles in back-to-back games.
If you’re in the same sentence as the greatest of all time, you’re doing something right. Giddey is proving he belongs in Chicago.
"Tonight was one of the best wins I've ever been a part of," Giddey said, via Collier.
The Bulls needed to prove they weren’t a fluke and could compete with the best in the Eastern Conference despite adversity. Against Philadelphia, they did just that.
As Stacey King exclaimed following Vucevic’s game-winning shot: “Bulls Nation, they’re for real.”