Australian NBA star Josh Giddey scored a career-high 32 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists, Nikola Vucevic added 26 points, and the Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks 135-125 on Saturday (AEDT) to stay undefeated and get out to their best start in nearly three decades.
Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score 22 points with nine assists for the Bulls, who improved to 5-0 and are off to their best start since the 1996-97 season when they opened 12-0 and went on to win the NBA Championship.
Billy Donovan earned his 200th coaching win with Chicago.
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Jalen Brunson scored 29 points and OG Anunoby had 26 to help power New York’s second-half comeback attempt. The Knicks cut Chicago’s lead to two points midway through the fourth quarter after trailing by 22 late in the second quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 10 rebounds despite playing with a right quad strain and landing hard on his hip in the third quarter. Mikal Bridges scored 23 points in the NBA Cup group play opener for both teams.
Josh Giddey in action against the New York Knicks. AP
Both teams relied heavily on three-pointers, with Chicago hitting 17 of 37 and New York converting 18 of 45. The Bulls outshot the Knicks overall from the floor, 53.6 per cent to 49.5 per cent.
The Bulls opened a 72-53 lead at the half, penetrating with crisp passing plays.
The Knicks went on a 23-9 run to start the third quarter and closed to 115-113 on Anunoby’s three with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter before Vucevic and Giddey connected on key possessions to ice it.
Giddey was asked by reporters post-match what had allowed him to become a more complete player, particularly off the ball.
“Confidence, [and] being in a place where I’m wanted,” the 23-year-old said.
“I love being here … That’s what you need as a player.
“I love when we’ve got other handlers … Obviously the situation was different in OKC [at Oklahoma City Thunder]; they’ve got the best player in the world. You want the ball in his hands. It’s just different situations.
“I love the guys I get to play with every night.”
ESPN basketball reporter Olgun Uluc described Giddey’s performance as “unbelievably impressive”.
Mitchell Robinson returned to the Knicks’ starting line-up after missing New York’s first four games with a left ankle injury and had 11 rebounds. Guerschon Yabusele returned after sitting out one game with a sprained left knee.
Up next
Knicks and Bulls: The teams meet again, on Monday (AEDT) in New York.