Ay! I know the Chicago Bulls lost tonight, but watching them erase a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter (and improve their lottery odds), got me excited to be a Bulls fan. Jalen Smith is a straight-up monster, and I really hope he’s part of Chicago’s long-term plans.
That said, I would’ve preferred to lose for just about any reason other than an inbound steal. But here we are.
AS WE WERE SAYING…DRAKE POWELL SEALS IT WITH A HUGE DEFLECTION t.co/ce9MsFqrom pic.twitter.com/z9UUtXRaEp
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 17, 2026We’re officially halfway through the season, 41 games in the books, with 41 more to go. Whether it ends in the play-in, the playoffs, or the lottery. Time is flying!
First Half: Matas Can’t Catch a Break!
Exactly like the last two games for Chicago, this one started close. Buckets were traded, and neither team could create any real separation. It was a struggle offensively, with both teams shooting well under 50% from the field. Just brick after brick.
The Bulls were the first to figure out how to get the ball in the hoop, but the Nets made up for it by giving themselves more bites at the apple. That effort is why Brooklyn ended the low-scoring quarter up four. Patrick Williams, by the end of the first quarter, had more points than Okoro, Jones, and White combined. And he added a big block—no slander, just reading out the numbers here.
Just getting started in Brooklyn.Vooch: 8pts pic.twitter.com/qmJUMLo99f
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2026Nikola Vučević, the man fresh off a game-winner against Utah, was the first to reach double-digit points on the court, and he didn’t miss a single one of his first five shots to get there. He could not have cared less that the Bulls were struggling from three. He was taking it to the hole and cashing in on the best shot the sport can offer.
Matas, on the other hand, was struggling. He made just one of his eight shot attempts and even botched a wide-open dunk that perfectly summed up the night. He had been benched for most of the second half against Utah due to a poor first half, and tonight wasn’t looking much prettier either.
Matas Buzelis is having TOUGH HALF! 8 Points on 1/8 from the field and 1/5 from the three. Chicago Bulls down 17.Will Billy bench him again? #bulls #nba pic.twitter.com/QIcJZ2ykow
— Joshua Miranda (@JoshAMiranda) January 17, 2026The Bulls, who rank second in the league in points off the bench, had just half the production Brooklyn’s bench was putting up.
Brooklyn took full advantage and started running up the score, pushing the lead to as many as 19. Chicago quite literally could not make a layup, ending the half on nine straight misses and staring straight into the hole they dug themselves. Chicago 40, Brooklyn 57.
At the intermission.Vooch: 13ptsMatas: 8pts pic.twitter.com/udqhMV5pCa
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2026Chicago Bulls Player of the Half: Nikola Vučević – 13 points on 6/8 from the field.
Second Half: A 20-Point Bulls Comeback! Too Little, Too Late
Coby White, who had been struggling for a game and a half, came out hot this quarter. A 6–0 personal run, capped by a tough euro-step and-one, finally started to chip away at the lead. The offense was contagious, and even Buzelis looked like he was waving off the slump.
A block & a bucket for @BuzelisMatas ? pic.twitter.com/OkgEGsN0x3
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2026But it did very little to erase the deficit they had built. The Nets were on fire from behind the arc—and as I learned back in first-grade math, three is more than two. The halftime deficit was 17, and by the end of the third quarter, it was still 17.
To the 4th we go.Vooch: 17pts pic.twitter.com/n2Hi2LopHQ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2026The Bulls were down big, but the fourth quarter is where they do their best work. Jalen Smith knocked down two threes, Coby White followed, and suddenly the lead was under 10.
In the middle of that run, it was announced that Patrick Williams would not be returning due to an ankle injury.
Injury Up Patrick Williams (right ankle sprain) will not return tonight vs. Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/XJ8zxFj6WU
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2026Matas Buzelis completely flipped the script, tying a career-high fourth block. Everyone was scoring now—five Bulls in double figures. It almost directly correlated with Billy Donovan trusting and running the double-big lineup. A 22–9 run turned it into a two-possession game with under five minutes to go. It was officially clutch time.
That last minute was genuine squeaky-bum time. Jalen Smith’s corner three and Okoro’s steal and dunk made me feel something.
And then it happened. Nikola Vučević got the strip, Tre Jones took it to the rim, and finished the go-ahead bucket. We’ve seen this movie before, in Sacramento, but this time Vučević was the passer and Jones was the finisher.
In the game against Sacramento, it was Tre Jones who passed it to Nikola Vucevic. The big man just returned the favor. #nba #bulls pic.twitter.com/PkYKdiPKie
— Joshua Miranda (@JoshAMiranda) January 17, 2026There was still time on the clock, and MPJ made it count, knocking down the shot to retake the lead and put the Bulls under pressure with five seconds to go.
We all knew the ball was going to Nikola, but there was no guarantee the Nets would even let it get there. Rookie Drake Powell stole the ball, and with it, the game.
Nets win, 112–109.
Late surge came up short.Vooch: 19 pointsAyo: 18 pointsCoby: 17 points pic.twitter.com/irEmTS2WF7
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2026Chicago Bulls Player of the Night: Jalen Smith
Despite a poor offensive start, Jalen Smith finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and a steal. A dominant showing!
Numbers to Remember
With another loss tonight, the Chicago Bulls fall to 19–22. That’s 41 games, officially the halfway point of the season. And somehow, it’s familiar territory. The Bulls have posted this exact 19–22 record in three of the last four seasons: 2022–23, 2023–24, and now 2025–26. Consistently average.Bulls reach midway point at 19-22 for 3rd time in 4 seasons
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 17, 2026 Matas Buzelis finished the game tied with his career-high four blocks. He had a fifth one on the night, but it was later taken off—leaving his career high at four. Tonight, Jalen Smith finished with double-double, his sixth one of the season, and 32nd of his career. He played a game-high 35 minutes off the bench.With a stat-line of 14 points and 13 rebounds, Jalen Smith picked up his 10th double-double in his two years for the Chicago Bulls. 4 last season and 6 this season! Should he be starting for the Bulls?#bulls #nba
— Joshua Miranda (@JoshAMiranda) January 17, 2026 The Brooklyn Nets outscored the Chicago Bulls 57–33 from behind the arc—a 24-point advantage in a game the Bulls lost by three.the bank is open for @Daniel_Wolf6! pic.twitter.com/z3ZQjNvRVt
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 17, 2026Full Box Score
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