The Bulls are 1-1 after a 132-125 win at Milwaukee and host Washington tonight. The fast start to the season is not the question; the question is whether they can stop spotting teams big leads.
Saturday night at home. Washington arrives at 1-1 under Brian Keefe, coming off a 17-65 year with a 121.5 defensive rating. AJ Dybantsa is day-to-day with a left ankle. Both teams have had one day of rest, so there is no schedule excuse for either side.
The hole in Milwaukee. The Bulls scored 17 in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 15. A 16-0 run in the second quarter flipped it. They then answered a late Bucks 8-0 burst with an 8-0 finish of their own. Nobody should plan on needing that twice.
Jones decided it. Tre Jones came off the bench for 11 points and eight assists, perfect on five free throws, and finished plus-24 in 24 minutes. His four free throws in the last nine seconds sealed it after Tyler Herro's floater made it a one-possession game.
Wilson in the fourth. Caleb Wilson scored 21 and took seven of his points in the final quarter. He also stole a Herro pass with 15 seconds left. The Sun-Times' Joe Cowley wrote that Wilson is far from the usual rookie in the clutch.
Giddey's minus night. Josh Giddey was minus-15 in 25 minutes and Matas Buzelis minus-10 in 17. Giddey still closed the game, so Splitter has not moved off him. Powell's 25 came on 7-of-20 shooting, with nine free throws made on nine tries.
Swain and the big man. The Sun-Times reported the Bulls are building a plan for rookie Dailyn Swain that includes the G League. Nic Claxton, the $23.1 million center, is out with a hamstring injury and is estimated back November 4. Jalen Smith grabbed 13 rebounds in Milwaukee.
When is the next Bulls game?
The Bulls host the Washington Wizards tonight, October 24. They visit the Celtics on October 26.
When will Nic Claxton return for the Bulls?
Nic Claxton is out with a hamstring injury and his estimated return is November 4.
