CHICAGO – The Chicago Bulls rolled to a dominant 134-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night at the United Center, delivering a balanced team effort highlighted by standout performances from Isaac Okoro, Tre Jones, and Jalen Smith.
Okoro led the way for Chicago with 24 points, displaying his scoring versatility while attacking both the rim and the perimeter, demonstrating the type of consistent aggression the Bulls have been looking for all season.
Tre Jones and Jalen Smith both recorded double-doubles, with Jones tallying 20 points and 12 assists and Smith adding 14 points and 14 rebounds, providing a crucial inside-outside balance that helped Chicago maintain control throughout the contest.
The Bulls had an incredible eight players reach double figures, showcasing depth and cohesion in the absence of their two top scorers, guards Coby White and Josh Giddey, who were sidelined with calf and hamstring injuries respectively.
Matas Buzelis contributed 19 points, while veteran Nikola Vucevic added 17, demonstrating Chicago’s mix of young talent and experienced leadership that has become a hallmark of their approach under coach Billy Donovan.
Kevin Huerter scored 13 points, and both Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams chipped in 12 points apiece, highlighting the Bulls’ collective effort and emphasizing that this was a team victory built on depth rather than reliance on a single star.
For the Pelicans, Zion Williamson led the team with 31 points, showing his usual combination of power and agility in the paint, while Jordan Poole added 26 points to try to keep New Orleans competitive throughout the night.
Saddiq Bey contributed 16 points, and Trey Murphy III added 15, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Chicago’s offensive balance and defensive discipline, marking the Pelicans’ fifth consecutive loss after a brief five-game winning streak.
This victory allowed the Bulls to finally beat New Orleans after losing twice earlier in the season, including a 143-130 defeat in New Orleans on November 24 and a 114-104 loss at home on December 14, making this a measure of redemption for Chicago.
The game began with New Orleans’ Murphy and Jeremiah Fears hitting back-to-back three-pointers, cutting into a five-point halftime deficit and narrowing the gap to just two points early in the third quarter.
Chicago responded with timely contributions from Patrick Williams, who drained a three-pointer, and Jalen Smith, who converted a three-point play, allowing the Bulls to push their lead to 88-79, providing some breathing room against the Pelicans’ sporadic runs.
Despite Poole making two three-pointers to reduce the deficit to three, Chicago ended the third quarter ahead 97-90, showing resilience and poise in maintaining their advantage even when New Orleans attempted to climb back into the game.
The fourth quarter saw the Pelicans creep within four points twice early on, but Buzelis’ seven points helped Chicago widen the lead to 122-105 midway through the period, effectively sealing the victory well before the final buzzer.
The game’s first quarter had the Bulls racing to a 14-4 lead, with five players scoring early to establish dominance, while Murphy made a three-pointer for New Orleans, but the Bulls quickly responded to maintain momentum.
New Orleans closed the gap to 31-30 before Chicago expanded their lead to 36-32 at the end of the first quarter, demonstrating the back-and-forth nature of the early stages while foreshadowing the Bulls’ ability to control the game later.
Vucevic opened the second quarter scoring with a jumper that gave the Bulls a six-point lead, but Jordan Hawkins’ floater pushed New Orleans in front at 42-40, igniting a brief surge that kept the Pelicans competitive in the first half.
After a series of ties and three lead changes, New Orleans pulled even again at 56, but Okoro’s three-pointer sparked a 7-0 Chicago run, allowing the Bulls to build a 67-62 halftime advantage and carry momentum into the second half.
Chicago shot 51.1% from the field, hitting 47 of 92 attempts, while the Pelicans managed 42 makes on 98 attempts, reflecting a 42.9% shooting performance and highlighting the Bulls’ superior efficiency despite New Orleans taking more shots.
The turnover battle was tightly contested, but the Bulls converted ten Pelicans miscues into 20 points, while New Orleans only managed 11 points off nine Chicago turnovers, underscoring Chicago’s ability to capitalize on opportunities and execute under pressure.
Smith’s performance in the paint was particularly critical, as his double-double included both scoring and rebounding contributions that limited second-chance opportunities for New Orleans, allowing the Bulls to control the boards and dictate the pace.
Tre Jones’ 12 assists reflected his role as a floor general, orchestrating the offense, distributing the ball effectively to multiple scorers, and ensuring that the Bulls’ balanced attack was maximized throughout the game.
Matas Buzelis’ scoring outburst, combined with Okoro’s perimeter shooting, provided Chicago with multiple options to exploit New Orleans’ defensive schemes, forcing the Pelicans to guard the entire court rather than focusing on a single threat.
Vucevic’s veteran presence was also key, as his scoring, passing, and basketball IQ allowed Chicago to make timely adjustments, read the Pelicans’ defense, and set up both offensive and defensive plays efficiently.
Kevin Huerter’s contribution from the perimeter added another dimension to Chicago’s attack, spacing the floor and providing a reliable outside threat, which helped create driving lanes for guards and forwards alike.
The Bulls’ defensive execution also played a role in their success, with team rotations, closeouts, and communication preventing the Pelicans from sustaining runs or converting second-chance points, particularly in the critical third and fourth quarters.
For the Pelicans, despite strong performances from Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole, the team struggled to maintain consistency, especially in converting fast-break opportunities and responding to Chicago’s balanced scoring output and defensive rotations.
Chicago’s win highlights the importance of team depth, especially when facing injuries to key players, as eight double-figure scorers demonstrate the ability to share responsibilities, maintain high energy, and close out games effectively.
The Bulls will look to carry this momentum into upcoming games, using this victory as a confidence boost while further integrating contributions from their young core and maintaining a rotation that can sustain performance across 48 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans will have to regroup, find ways to regain consistency, and develop strategies to prevent other teams from exploiting gaps that were highlighted in this matchup, particularly against a deep and versatile squad like Chicago.
Overall, Chicago’s 134-118 triumph over New Orleans reflects a complete team performance, where offensive balance, defensive discipline, and opportunistic scoring combined to overcome the absence of two top scorers and secure a decisive win in front of their home crowd.
