Josh Giddey Shines as Bulls Stay Perfect with Win Over Knicks

Josh Giddey delivered the best game of his young career, scoring a career-high 32 points along with 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Chicago Bulls past the New York Knicks 135-125 on Friday night. The victory kept the Bulls undefeated at 5-0, marking their best start since the 1996-97 season — the year Chicago opened 12-0 and captured the NBA Championship.

Nikola Vucevic added 26 points for the Bulls, who looked sharp from start to finish in front of an electric home crowd. Ayo Dosunmu gave Chicago a major spark off the bench, scoring 22 points and dishing out nine assists as the Bulls’ depth continued to shine early in the season.

The win also marked a milestone for head coach Billy Donovan, who earned his 200th victory with the Bulls.

The Knicks, meanwhile, refused to go quietly. Jalen Brunson led New York with 29 points, while OG Anunoby poured in 26 as they tried to mount a comeback in the second half. After trailing by 22 late in the second quarter, the Knicks stormed back and cut the deficit to just two points midway through the fourth. But Chicago held firm, with Giddey and Vucevic making clutch plays down the stretch to seal the game.

Karl-Anthony Towns battled through a right quad strain and a hard fall in the third quarter to post 22 points and 10 rebounds, showing grit in the loss. Mikal Bridges also contributed 23 points in what was the NBA Cup group play opener for both teams.

Both squads leaned heavily on the three-point shot. Chicago hit 17 of 37 from deep, while New York knocked down 18 of 45. The Bulls’ overall shooting proved to be the difference, as they finished at 53.6% from the field compared to the Knicks’ 49.5%.

Chicago set the tone early, racing out to a 72-53 halftime lead thanks to crisp ball movement and efficient offense. The Knicks’ late surge made things interesting, but the Bulls’ balance and composure helped them stay perfect — and send a message that this early-season run might be more than just a hot start.

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