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Chicago Bulls edged Atlanta Hawks 152-150 in regulation, in a game that raised defensive concerns. Both teams passed 150 points, something seen only eight times in NBA history and just three times over the last 35 seasons, underlining the contest’s rare scoring level.
Josh Giddey admitted Chicago Bulls cannot ignore issues at the backcourt and across the defence. The guard stressed that strong offence may decide many results, yet stated that current defensive standards are not acceptable for a group targeting consistent wins this season.
Matas Buzelis produced a season-best 28 points, hitting seven of eight three-point attempts for an 88% conversion rate. Giddey almost posted a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds
and two steals, driving Chicago Bulls tempo and half-court creation all night.
The scoring load was widely shared, with nine Chicago Bulls players reaching at least 10 points. That balanced output has occurred only four times in franchise history. The team highlighted this rare milestone on social media, emphasising the depth of contributors in the narrow victory.
In today's win: 9 Bulls scored 10+ points for just the 4th time in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/ikLhqQTTvPChicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 22, 2025
Atlanta Hawks exposed weaknesses on the other end, as Jalen Johnson posted 36 points and Trae Young added 35. Those individual totals underlined where Chicago Bulls struggled most, with repeated breakdowns in transition coverage and perimeter containment across the forty-eight minutes.
Key numbers from the Chicago Bulls win over Atlanta Hawks are shown below.
| Team / Player | Stat | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls | Final score | 152 |
| Atlanta Hawks | Final score | 150 |
| Matas Buzelis | Points | 28 |
| Matas Buzelis | Three-pointers | 7/8 (88%) |
| Josh Giddey | Points / Assists / Rebounds / Steals | 19 / 12 / 9 / 2 |
| Johnson / Young | Points | 36 / 35 |
| Chicago Bulls | Players in double figures | 9 |
Reflecting on the performance, Giddey offered a blunt assessment of both ends of the floor. "It probably was [our best offensive game as a team]. Probably our worst defensive [game] as well, Giddey said post-match. " The contrast highlighted how Chicago Bulls outscored mistakes rather than controlled the contest.
Giddey described the pace and nature of the clash, linking the huge total to style of play. "Scoring 150, youre going to win most nights, [but] they scored 150 as well. It was one of those nights, both teams played extremely fast up and down the floor. Well watch film and see what we need to get better at. But offensively when we have nine guys in double figures, thats kind of the recipe for us how to win games. " Chicago Bulls now look to strengthen defensive schemes while keeping that fluid scoring rhythm.
