The Bulls dug out of a 21-point hole and cut it to four in the final seconds, but lost their home game to Washington 124-120. They fall to 1-2 and 10th in the East on the second night of a back-to-back.
The hole. Washington led by 21 and the Bulls never led by more than 10. The Wizards ran off a 40-point third quarter, 97-82 cumulative, while Chicago scored 20. Two nights after a comeback in Milwaukee, the Bulls spent the night chasing again.
The push. Chicago opened the fourth on a 10-0 run, 103-82 to 103-92, and the lead dropped to 99 and then 112-99 before Washington steadied. Wilson had 11 in the period, Powell 10, Buzelis 9. It got within 122-118 on a Powell three with three seconds left.
How it ended. Buzelis fouled Trae Young with six seconds left, and Young hit two. Buddy Hield fouled him again with two seconds left, and Young hit two more. Hield's layup off a Giddey pass came at the buzzer. Young finished with 25, all but 10 of them on threes and free throws that sealed it.
Wilson is the story. Wilson scored 30 with 14 rebounds, two steals and no turnovers in 38 minutes, and was a team-best plus-14. He shot 10-of-24 and 1-of-9 from three, so it was volume, not efficiency. A rookie carrying the load is a good sign and a warning.
Grades. Wilson gets a B-plus for the rebounds and the free throws. Giddey earns an A-minus: nine points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, no turnovers. Powell gets a C: 4-of-12 from the field, four steals, four turnovers. Okoro was minus-21 in 14 minutes.
Bench and depth. The bench scored 28 against 92 from the starters. Tre Jones was minus-9 in 18 minutes and Jalen Smith minus-8 in 24. Washington's Justin Champagnie had 14 rebounds and was plus-18 in 26 minutes, the kind of night the Bulls needed from someone.
What it changes. A win would have put Chicago at 2-1 and level with Washington, which is sixth. Instead the Bulls sit 10th, tied on the game count with the cutoff. Patrick Williams and Noa Essengue are listed out, Nic Claxton is out until about November 4.
What was the final score of Bulls vs Wizards on October 24?
Washington won 124-120 in Chicago. Caleb Wilson led the Bulls with 30 points and 14 rebounds.
Where are the Bulls in the East standings?
They are 10th at 1-2 after the loss to Washington. The Wizards are sixth at 2-1.
