The Bulls Week 4 breakdown follows a blown 22-point lead Wednesday and the two wins that ended an eight-game skid. Norman Powell scored 56 points across victories over the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Chicago Bulls went 2–1 from November 11 through 14, 2026, and improved to 3–9.
Bulls Week 4 Breakdown: A 22-Point Lead Disappears
The San Antonio Spurs beat Chicago 124–119 on Wednesday after trailing by as many as 22 points. The Bulls shot 66 percent before halftime, with Jalen Smith making all five of his 3-pointers on his way to a career-high-tying 23 points. Smith’s shooting pulled Victor Wembanyama away from the rim and gave Chicago room to drive. The Spurs still earned their 10th straight win by turning steals into chances before the Bulls could set their defense.
Chicago’s 70–56 halftime lead shrank after five turnovers in the opening four minutes of the third quarter. The Spurs won second-half fast-break scoring 16–2, and the Bulls finished with 19 giveaways. The Spurs rally recap detailed Dylan Harper’s 10 assists without a turnover as Wembanyama scored 32 and blocked five shots.
The Week 3 breakdown traced how the Philadelphia 76ers scored 33 second-chance points against Chicago. Wednesday’s giveaways cost the Bulls chances to shoot and gave San Antonio opportunities to run. Nic Claxton scored 17 off the bench, while Caleb Wilson scored 15 in 15 minutes before leaving with a third-quarter hand injury. The loss dropped Chicago to 1–9.
Powell Takes Over In Overtime Against Atlanta
Chicago won Friday’s NBA Cup game 125–117 in overtime, with Powell back after missing two games with back spasms. The Bulls led 60–53 at halftime, and Powell stretched the margin to seven again with 2:22 left in regulation. The play-by-play log shows Jalen Johnson stealing Josh Giddey’s pass before tying the game at 110 with a running dunk at 1:08.
Johnson set up Onyeka Okongwu for the first basket of overtime before Powell answered with a floater and a free throw. Atlanta tied the game again, and Powell’s stepback put Chicago ahead for good. Powell scored nine of his 33 points in the extra period, and the NBA Cup win gave the Bulls their first home victory of the season. Chicago took the extra period 15–7.
Giddey finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, while Smith added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Isaac Okoro also scored 15, but Chicago’s passing created chances for Atlanta, too. The official scorer’s report counts 25 Bulls turnovers, including one team turnover, and credits the Hawks with 34 points off them. Chicago made 20 threes to Atlanta’s eight while giving up 20 more points in the paint and 17 more on second chances.
Bulls Week 4 Breakdown: How Chicago Answered Both Minnesota Runs
Chicago beat Minnesota 117–106 on Saturday, snapping a five-game winning streak after a nationwide ground stop disrupted travel plans. The Bulls led 29–17 after one quarter, but former Bull Ayo Dosunmu brought the Timberwolves within 69–66 with a third-quarter layup. Matas Buzelis found Buddy Hield for the three that capped an 11–3 answer.
LaMelo Ball cut the deficit to six early in the fourth, and Powell answered with a layup and a three. Giddey and Hield added threes during the 15–6 run that put Chicago up by 15. The Bulls scored 30 points in Saturday’s third quarter after managing 19 against the Spurs and 24 against the Hawks.
Powell led Chicago with 23 points and shot 22-for-38 across both wins. Buzelis added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Hield and Tre Jones scored 16 apiece off the bench. The Bulls went 14-for-30 from three, and Minnesota’s 9-for-38 night made it harder to erase a deficit that Chicago rebuilt twice. The Bulls scored at least 29 in every quarter, and Dosunmu led Minnesota with 24.
Wilson’s Surgery Leaves A Frontcourt Test
Wilson had right-hand surgery November 12 after averaging 18.9 points and 6.2 rebounds through his first 10 starts. The team’s medical update set a three-week reevaluation, and a separate report put the expected absence at four to six weeks. The earlier Wilson injury analysis examined Patrick Williams at power forward, where Chicago also needs help finishing defensive possessions.
Saturday’s injury report listed Smith with a left finger sprain, Claxton under left hamstring injury management, and Tobe Awaka with disc irritation. Coach Tiago Splitter started Zach Collins, who played 28 minutes in the Minnesota box score, while Orlando Robinson stayed on the bench. The Bulls visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 16, with the Monday matchup set for 6 p.m. Central. Williams can help Collins on the glass by finding the first rebounder coming in from the weak side.
End Of My Bulls Week 4 Breakdown Rant
The Bulls Week 4 breakdown makes a case for Powell as the closer, with Buzelis getting the first touch after a timeout to draw help downhill. Splitter can use Williams as a screener when opponents pressure Giddey, giving the guard a shorter pass into the middle. Williams can then find Powell or a corner shooter before the defense recovers.
