Kevin Huerter and Nikola Vucevic hit clutch 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds as the Chicago Bulls held off the Denver Nuggets 130-127 on Monday at Ball Arena.
Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double with 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists, but his fourth-quarter heroics weren’t enough to overcome Chicago’s late surge.
Ayo Dosunmu and Josh Giddey each scored 21 points, with Giddey also hauling in 14 rebounds, as six Bulls players reached double figures and the team enjoyed a 66-9 advantage in bench scoring.
Chicago blew an 18-point first-half lead and a 13-point edge in the fourth quarter before rallying, demonstrating resilience after a 150-147 double-overtime loss in Utah just 24 hours earlier.
Huerter’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining and Vucevic’s shot with 33 seconds left provided the final cushion, while Jokic’s buzzer attempt narrowly missed, sealing Denver’s first home loss of the season.
Jamal Murray scored 34 points, 18 in the fourth, and Aaron Gordon added 24, but the Nuggets saw their seven-game winning streak snapped and remain without shooting guard Christian Braun (left ankle).
The Bulls rested Coby White (strained right calf) after he played 30 minutes and scored 27 points on Sunday, yet Chicago’s balanced attack carried them through a hostile Mile High environment.
Chicago finishes their four-game road trip on Wednesday at Portland, while Denver begins a two-game swing in New Orleans.
