The Chicago Bulls dropped all three games in Week 3, extending their losing streak to seven and falling to 1-8. The Bulls Week 3 breakdown shows a defense that gave up 388 points through a different weakness each game. The Philadelphia 76ers won 126-107 on November 2, and the New York Knicks won 135-105 two nights later. The 76ers took Sunday’s rematch 127-121 at the United Center.
The Week 2 breakdown covered three losses and 392 points allowed, so Chicago gave up only four fewer points this week. The Bulls struggled to protect the paint Monday and fell behind early Wednesday as missed shots and turnovers fed the opposing offense. Chicago shot better than Philadelphia in the rematch but took 11 fewer shots, making it difficult to turn a late rally into a lead.
Bulls Week 3 Breakdown: How The Rematch Turned On Rebounds
The 76ers matched the Bulls’ 46 field goals despite shooting 46.5% to 52.3%. The Sunday box score lists nine turnovers for Philadelphia and 13 for Chicago, one reason the visitors had more chances to shoot. The 76ers also grabbed 20 offensive rebounds to nine for the Bulls. The Reuters recap put the second-chance scoring margin at 33-12, more than triple the final margin.
Philadelphia made four more 3-pointers on three fewer attempts, outscoring Chicago by 12 from beyond the arc. The Bulls shot 27.0% from deep, compared with 41.2% for the 76ers. A Josh Giddey floater cut the lead to three with 5:05 left, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope answered with a three. Caleb Wilson later brought Chicago back within three, giving the home team another chance to make the next stop count.
LeBron James missed from deep on the ensuing possession, but Joel Embiid grabbed the rebound and scored on a turnaround, per the play-by-play log. Isaac Okoro’s three-point play still brought the Bulls within two. Embiid made two free throws on the next trip, and Tyrese Maxey’s stepback three pushed Philadelphia’s lead to seven with 2:13 left.
Two Road Losses Exposed Different Problems
Chicago trailed by five at halftime Monday despite scoring 36 in the second quarter. The 76ers scored 62 points in the paint and recorded 36 assists, per the official scorer’s report. Maxey scored 15 in the fourth to put the game away. The Bulls won second-chance scoring 20-17, so their bigger problem was how readily Philadelphia scored before a rebound came into play.
New York took control much sooner Wednesday, with Jalen Brunson scoring 22 points and hitting four threes in the opening period. Coach Tiago Splitter blamed rushed shots for hurting the defense, and one early sequence illustrated the cost. Norman Powell missed a three, and Brunson scored six seconds after the defensive rebound. OG Anunoby stole Powell’s next pass and drew a foul, then made both free throws to put the Knicks ahead 10-6.
New York stretched that lead to 43-21 by the end of the first quarter. Chicago shot 10-for-44 from deep in the Wednesday box score, while the Knicks made 17 threes. The Bulls lost second-chance scoring 18-14, a smaller gap than Sunday’s and a less convincing explanation for how quickly Wednesday got away.
Caleb Wilson Found A Better Route To The Rim
Wilson scored 24 points Monday and made four threes, adding seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals in his most complete game of the week. New York held him to five points on 2-for-12 shooting Wednesday. Seven of his attempts came from deep, and the rookie never reached the free-throw line or recorded an assist.
Wilson recovered to score 18 on Sunday, with five of his seven baskets coming inside the arc. Giddey found Wilson for a dunk nine seconds after a defensive rebound, an example of how Chicago can get the rookie a shot before help arrives. Wilson still needed 18 attempts, so getting him the ball earlier after stops could give him an easier way to score.
Giddey recorded 15 of the team’s 30 assists Sunday and scored 19 points himself. Matas Buzelis matched that scoring total without a turnover after committing five in the first meeting. The Bulls had another scoring option in Buzelis but needed more stops to get both forwards moving before the defense could set.
Nic Claxton’s Debut Showed What A Block Can Miss
Nic Claxton debuted after a left hamstring strain and collected four rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes. Jalen Smith started after spraining a finger and blocked four shots. The league injury report listed Powell out with right shoulder inflammation, leaving Chicago without a guard who had attempted 11 free throws in the first meeting.
Jabari Walker grabbed five offensive rebounds off the bench, including one after a Maxey miss that extended the possession long enough for Claxton to block Jaylen Brown. Brown recovered his own blocked shot, and the Bulls gave up a three to Caldwell-Pope seconds later. The play showed why adding another shot blocker only solves part of the problem.
The NBA Cup Resumes Against Atlanta
Chicago remains 0-1 in East Group C after a week without an NBA Cup game. The Boston Celtics won the October 30 Cup opener 125-111, leaving the Bulls with a minus-14 Cup differential. Chicago hosts the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. Central on Friday, November 13, with two group games to follow on the NBA Cup schedule.
The Bulls host the Washington Wizards on November 20, then visit the Charlotte Hornets on November 25. Both games count in the tournament and the regular season. The NBA Cup guide explains the tiebreakers, which give Chicago a reason to protect its scoring margin even after the result is settled.
End Of My Bulls Week 3 Breakdown Rant
The Bulls Week 3 breakdown points to a change on the weak side. The wing should box out when the center rotates, and a guard should track longer rebounds. Chicago hosts the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, giving the Bulls a chance to test those assignments before Friday’s Cup game. Opponent offensive-rebound rate should be the first benchmark.
Sunday’s opponent grabbed 37.7% of available offensive boards, excluding team rebounds. Second-chance points track the scoring cost, but the rebound rate shows whether a missed shot is actually ending the possession. A secured rebound also gives Giddey the chance to start the break and find Wilson before defenders get back.
