When the first quarter of tonight's game concluded with the Bulls trailing 45-27, many were tempted to turn off their televisions. After trailing by 19 at halftime, the majority probably did. In any game over the last decade, it was a safe bet that Chicago would pack it in, assume the loss, and go quietly into the night. Not this group. They hung around, cut the lead down to nine headed into the fourth quarter, and after grabbing their first lead of the night with 3.2 seconds on the clock, somehow pulled off the most improbable comeback win of the young NBA season. Here's how they turned the tide, and what it means moving forward.
Josh Giddey Is An All-Star
Initially, many questioned the Bulls' decision to trade Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey in the summer of 2024. Then, they again pondered if Chicago was justified in inking him to a $100 million extension this offseason. All questions have been answered through six games; he's a star and borderline superstar. Although it may be an early call, this will go down as Arturas Karnisovas's best move as the franchise's front office leader. Tonight, Giddey was the reason the Bulls stuck around as long as they did and clinched the game for them down the stretch. For the second game straight, he posted a monster triple-double. This one featured a 29-point, 15-rebound, 12-assist night, including a 52.6% shooting clip from the field.
Josh Giddey this season:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 5, 2025
29 PTS - 15 REB - 12 AST
23 PTS - 12 REB - 12 AST
32 PTS - 10 REB - 9 AST
20 PTS - 8 REB - 12 AST
18 PTS - 13 REB - 5 AST
21 PTS - 8 REB - 3 AST
19 PTS - 5 REB - 11 AST
Bulls 6-1 🔥 All-Star? 👀
(Via @realapp ) pic.twitter.com/FN7R6gmrxe
Without a doubt, Giddey would be named an All-Star right now. If he maintains this pace, or anywhere near it, Chicago will boast their first representative in the All-Star game since 2022.
Defense Is Winning Games
It's comical to suggest that defense is the reason Chicago is winning basketball games on a night when they surrendered 45 points in the first 12 minutes. For the remaining 36 minutes of action, they only gave up 66. The Philadelphia 76ers were blazing hot out of the gates, shooting over 50% from the field and over 60% from deep through the first portion of the night, but the Bulls' defensive intensity forced them down to 42.6% from the field and 36.7% from three-point land when the final buzzer sounded. With incredible versatility and athleticism down the roster, they've become one of the more intimidating defenses leaguewide. The ability to switch nearly any two players fluently has greatly helped their cause. They rank in the top half in points allowed per game, and are sixth in three-point percentage against.
just like that, Bulls are back in it off a flurry of defensive stops. when you turn defense into offense, good things happen, and leaning on that has consistently been the recipe for this team to succeed. pic.twitter.com/bBekjiYLh1
— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) November 5, 2025
Balanced Attack Is Keeping Opponents Guessing
Perhaps the most secretive weapon the Bulls possess is their offensive diversity. Each night, it feels like a different contributor arises. Giddey and Nikola Vucevic are the constant mainstays, but sprinkle in five other players averaging 9.5 or more points, and this group adds unpredictability. Jalen Smith and Isaac Okoro are the latest two examples, each scoring 12 or more points in their last two outings after averaging seven and four points, respectively, through the first five games. The absence of their leading bench scorer, Ayo Dosunmu, has forced others to fill the void, and they've fit the bill.
Isaac Okoro in tonight's 24-point comeback win:
— BullsMuse (@BullsMuse_) November 5, 2025
16 PTS
5 AST
2 STL
1 BLK
5/8 FG
3/6 FG pic.twitter.com/EYJgW864Nw
Tonight's signature win is another tough one for the anti-Bulls crowd to downplay. With an NBA Cup victory over the New York Knicks and a massive comeback win over the second-place team in the Eastern Conference, this band of misfits is putting together an impressive resume early on.
