Chicago led by 19 in the third quarter Wednesday and lost 133-127 to the Knicks, its third straight defeat. Next is Friday at Boston, the team that beat the Bulls by 35 on Monday.
The lead that vanished. The Bulls went up 87-68 midway through the third on an 11-0 run. The Knicks answered with 11 straight of their own. Chicago still led 96-90 after three, then gave up 43 in the fourth. Jalen Brunson scored 14 of his 38 in the period, and Jordan Clarkson added 12.
Powell carried it. Norman Powell scored 30 on 10-of-15 shooting and finished plus-13, his biggest night of the year. He also turned it over four times and missed a 27-footer down four with three seconds left. Maxwell Ogden of Pippen Ain't Easy argued the big night shows why Powell's Chicago stay could be short.
The bench bled. The reserves scored 33 points to the starters' 94, and the plus-minus showed the damage. Leonard Miller was minus-24 in 17 minutes and was still on the floor in the last five minutes. Tre Jones and Noa Essengue were each minus-12. Clarkson and Landry Shamet scored 32 between them for New York.
Giddey and Smith worked. Josh Giddey had 10 points, eight boards and 11 assists with two turnovers. Jalen Smith put up 17 and 11 with three blocks and no turnovers. Both were plus-12. The Sun-Times' Joe Cowley wrote that the Bulls are taking better care of the ball, and these two backed that up.
The rookie's night. Caleb Wilson scored 20 with six rebounds but needed 18 shots to get there. Through five games he is hitting 22.2 percent of his threes. He scored eight in the fourth and took the last heave. In the Sun-Times, Jeff Agrest compared the rookie to a young Michael Jordan.
The infirmary. Tobe Awaka was upgraded from out with his ankle injury. He and Patrick Williams, who has a right groin injury, are both estimated to return Friday. Nic Claxton's hamstring points to Nov. 4. Boston lists Devin Carter out with an illness.
One number, one question. 121.7 is Chicago's defensive rating, set against a 105.8 offense. That works out to a net rating of minus-15.9, a 16-66 pace, and 134 and 133 points allowed in the last two games. If Splitter can't trust his bench to protect a lead, who closes games for this team?
When do the Bulls play the Celtics again?
Friday, Oct. 30, in Boston, in an NBA Cup group-stage game. Boston won the first meeting 134-99 on Oct. 26.
When is Nic Claxton expected back for the Bulls?
He is listed out with a hamstring injury, with an estimated return of Nov. 4. That is the game at the Knicks.
