The trick-or-treat Chicago Bulls delivered a post-Christmas miracle late Friday night. Chicago used a 13-2 closing run to pull away at home against the Philadelphia 76ers and secure their fifth straight victory, 109-102. The Bulls had trailed by as many as 11 points.
It marked their second five-game win streak of the season and returned Chicago to a .500 record on the year (15-15).
The Bulls ended the night on a 10-0 kick, keyed by this emphatic Jalen Smith flush over an exhausted-looking Joel Embiid.
ALL. THE. ANGLES. JALEN SMITH'S POSTER SLAM HAD US LIKE: ? t.co/MbURtX14Fp pic.twitter.com/JjBRU15mae
— NBA (@NBA) December 27, 2025Smith — who finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in 22:21 — was a big part of the Bulls’ success on Friday. He was one of three Chicago bench players to score in double digits, and Billy Donovan clearly trusted him enough to employ him in jumbo-sized double-big lineups for large stretches of the night.
On Saturday, the Bulls are looking for an encore performance. Chicago will host its I-94 neighbors, the Milwaukee Bucks, for the second contest of a six-game homestand. Unfortunately, a certain Bucks superstar may rejoin Milwaukee just in time to threaten Chicago’s second five-game win streak of the season…
Bulls Bullets
The Bucks have been absolutely awful without their best player, nine-time All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately for the Bulls, the two-time league MVP is expected to return from a calf injury after missing the last eight games, sources tell Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Nehm cautions that Antetokounmpo will undergo a series of pregame tests before he can officially get the green light to suit up. The Bucks have gone 9-8 (Nehm inaccurately claims the tally is 10-7) when Antetokounmpo plays this season, but a scant 3-11 when he sits. He’s a near-impossible cover even for good defensive teams, but he’s going to prove especially tough to guard for this relatively defense-free Chicago squad. One assumes the Bulls will handle Antetokounmpo piecemeal. Matas Buzelis isn’t strong enough to handle him, Nikola Vucevic isn’t quick enough, and Isaac Okoro isn’t big enough. Okoro will likely draw the assignment at tip, but the Bulls may look to toggle reserve bigs Zach Collins (the Bulls’ best rim protector) and Smith (who’s more mobile than either Collins or Vucevic) on Antetokounmpo for long stretches, too. On the second night of a back-to-back slate, the Bulls might be without their best player. Per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, point guard Josh Giddey has seen his status demoted to questionable due to an ankle sprain. Ayo Dosunmu or Tre Jones could be in line for more minutes if the 6-foot-8 vet is at all limited.Josh Giddey (left ankle sprain) listed as questionable for Bulls vs Bucks tonight
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) December 27, 2025 Although $90 million man Patrick Williams was questionable to play during Friday’s 76ers clash due to an illness, he ultimately had been given the green light. But the former No. 4 pick in 2020 stayed glued to Donovan’s bench, as a DNP – CD. As Joel Lorenzi observes, Williams’ minutes have been mightily reduced of late. Even if the first four games of this current win streak, Williams averaged a scant 7.8 minutes per.Pat Williams DNP tonight for healthy Bulls. Was questionable earlier today with illness, but has averaged just 7.8 minutes in Chicago’s last four games.
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) December 27, 2025 Keith Smith of Spotrac notes the 6-foot-7 forward, who’s still owed $72 million across the final four years of his current, exorbitant deal, should be on the trade block. To quote John McClane, welcome to the party, pal.$72M at $18M per season through 2028-29 and that final year is a player option.Gotta be time for a change of scenery here, assuming anyone wants to take the chance. t.co/Y5GAUuOPJi
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 27, 2025 Although this surging Bulls team has pretty obvious weaknesses (frontcourt defense being its most apparent), Hall of Famer Sam Smith of Bulls.com is dubious that Chicago’s front office will make any trades to address its present-day deficiencies. Smith argues that it might behoove the Bulls to make a deal — albeit with an eye more towards adding perhaps a flawed current player, in order to take back some additional draft capital. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports that Chicago has been engaged in trade talks with the Golden State Warriors front office, now run by ex-Bulls swingman Mike Dunleavy Jr. It’s unclear which players exactly the Warriors are targeting, but given Golden State’s clear need for a traditionally-sized veteran center, one wonders if all of Vucevic, Collins and Smith might be on the table. Soobum Im-Imagn Images The Bulls honored Vucevic during a first-quarter timeout for being just the 25th center to suit up for at least 1,000 games in league history. The 6-foot-9 USC product achieved the feat on Tuesday night, during the Bulls’ second straight win against Atlanta and their fourth victory overall in the ongoing win streak. Say what you will about the former two-time Orlando Magic All-Star (and I often do), but the guy rarely misses games — and to his credit, he does at least move his feet a bit defensively when he’s getting touches on offense and his team is in the mix late. Against Philadelphia, Vucevic had a modest seven points on 3-of-7 shooting, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in 28:34 of action. Collins (19:26) and Smith both played major minutes in his stead. Postgame, Donovan railed against the concept of overplaying developing players to tank, per Lorenzi. “It’s hard to argue what organizations are trying to do in terms of what they feel is best. Everybody’s looking at the fact, like a couple years [ago], Wemby’s there [as the No. 1 pick in 2023]. Cooper Flagg’s there. And everybody’s trying to maybe position themselves for that. But there’s no guarantee that that’s going to happen,” Donovan said. “I would sit here and say that letting a guy play through every single mistake is not the best way that’s gonna lead to his development in my opinion… Matas is a perfect example of that. He had a hard time last year getting on the floor. And you know, he got better at the things that I thought would impact winning.”MORE BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad Free | Subscribe to the BN Newsletter
The Blackhawks have recalled forward Landon Slaggert from the Rockford IceHogs. Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins could be in line for some major growth in 2026. San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle could be a game-time decision in this weekend’s tilt against the 11-4 Bears.Hence then, the article about a greek freak return josh giddey hurt paw out of the rotation and other bulls bullets was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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