The Chicago Bulls delivered one of the most explosive performances of the NBA season on Sunday night, edging the Atlanta Hawks 152–150 in a breathtaking contest that rewrote scoring benchmarks across the league. The win, which unfolded at relentless pace from start to finish, marked Chicago’s third straight victory and lifted their record to 13–15, reinforcing renewed momentum after an uneven start to the campaign.

Rookie forward Matas Buzelis emerged as the night’s defining figure, leading a remarkably balanced Bulls offense in which nine players finished in double figures. Buzelis poured in 28 points, highlighted by a career-high seven three-pointers on eight attempts, while Coby White chipped in 21 points despite nursing a sore left ankle. Josh Giddey added a polished all-around display with 19 points and 12 assists, as Chicago overwhelmed Atlanta with constant ball movement and perimeter shooting.

Chicago’s offense reached historic levels, producing season highs in both first-half scoring and total points. The Bulls erupted for 83 points before halftime, surpassing their previous season-best first half of 72, and ultimately exceeded their earlier high of 150 points. The scoring frenzy placed the matchup among the rarest in NBA history—only the eighth regulation game in which both teams scored at least 150 points, according to league data published by the NBA.

For the Atlanta Hawks, the loss extended a troubling stretch despite exceptional individual performances. Jalen Johnson led all scorers with 36 points, while Trae Young, making just his second start after returning from a right MCL sprain, added a season-high 35 points. Onyeka Okongwu contributed 23 points and Vit Krejci 20, but Atlanta fell to 15–15, suffering a third consecutive defeat and their seventh loss in nine games.

The game’s drama peaked in the closing seconds. With five seconds remaining, Johnson drained a clutch three-pointer to give Chicago a one-point edge. Moments later, Buzelis calmly converted one of two free throws to extend the lead to two. Trae Young’s final jumper missed at the buzzer, sealing a memorable Bulls victory and leaving the Hawks to reflect on costly defensive lapses.

After the game, Johnson did not mince words about Atlanta’s struggles on that end of the floor, calling it “embarrassing” to concede 80 points in a half. With defensive questions mounting and injuries lingering—Kristaps Porzingis missed his sixth straight game due to illness—the Hawks now face mounting pressure to stabilize as the season intensifies.