Chicago BullsOpen full analysis
Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Denver Nuggets 130–127 on November 17 at Ball Arena in a tight contest decided by perimeter shooting and third-quarter execution. Nikola Jokić led Denver with 36 points while Jamal Murray added 34, but the Nuggets' 47.4% field-goal accuracy and 14 three-pointers proved insufficient against Chicago's balanced attack. Josh Giddey and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 21 points for the Bulls, who shot 47.1% overall and made 19 three-pointers—five more than Denver—while distributing 31 assists to the Nuggets' 21. The decisive difference came in the third quarter, where Chicago outscored Denver 40–29, a 11-point swing that proved the margin of victory. Both teams grabbed 53 rebounds, but the Bulls' ball movement and three-point volume overwhelmed Denver's offensive efficiency rating of 123.3. The loss marks a rare road stumble for the Nuggets despite Jokić and Murray's combined 70 points, suggesting perimeter depth may remain a vulnerability heading forward.
