Bulls' Tanking Efforts Fall Flat as Denver Nuggets Outmuscle Them 136-120
The Chicago Bulls' experiment in "tanking" – intentionally losing games to improve their draft position – took a hit on Saturday night. Despite putting together three quarters of competitive play, including seven players reaching double figures, the Bulls ultimately succumbed to the Denver Nuggets in a 136-120 rout at the United Center.
Nikola Jokic's impressive performance was a major factor in the Nuggets' victory, with the All-Star center tallying 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds. "I love watching him play," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said of Jokic. "He impacts the game in so many ways... it's impressive the way he plays."
The Bulls' own performance was led by Collin Sexton's 17 points, but they struggled to find consistency on defense, particularly in the fourth quarter. Despite having a strong start, the team fizzled out and allowed Jokic to dominate, scoring plus-19 in the period alone.
The loss is just the latest in a string of tough outings for the Bulls, who are struggling to find their footing under new coach Billy Donovan. While some, like executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas, may have taken heart from the team's 15-5 run at the end of last season, Donovan sees things differently.
"The thing that stood out to me more than anything else was the Miami play-in game," he said. "The 15-5, because it was the end of the year, was such a mixed bag of teams... We got really dominated in that game."
For Donovan, the focus is on growth and improvement, rather than tanking for draft purposes. The question now is whether the Bulls can turn their season around, or if they're doomed to continue struggling under new leadership.
Jaden Ivey, the team's young point guard, spoke candidly about his own experience playing with a new team. "It feels like a pickup game at the local gym," he said of adjusting to his new teammates and system. "Nobody just comes in and says 'we got it down pat.' You gotta kind of figure it out, and it takes time."
The Bulls' next challenge will be whether they can regroup and find some consistency on the court. With Jokic's impressive performance a reminder that there's still much to learn from other teams, the question remains: where will this team go from here?
The Chicago Bulls' experiment in "tanking" – intentionally losing games to improve their draft position – took a hit on Saturday night. Despite putting together three quarters of competitive play, including seven players reaching double figures, the Bulls ultimately succumbed to the Denver Nuggets in a 136-120 rout at the United Center.
Nikola Jokic's impressive performance was a major factor in the Nuggets' victory, with the All-Star center tallying 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds. "I love watching him play," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said of Jokic. "He impacts the game in so many ways... it's impressive the way he plays."
The Bulls' own performance was led by Collin Sexton's 17 points, but they struggled to find consistency on defense, particularly in the fourth quarter. Despite having a strong start, the team fizzled out and allowed Jokic to dominate, scoring plus-19 in the period alone.
The loss is just the latest in a string of tough outings for the Bulls, who are struggling to find their footing under new coach Billy Donovan. While some, like executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas, may have taken heart from the team's 15-5 run at the end of last season, Donovan sees things differently.
"The thing that stood out to me more than anything else was the Miami play-in game," he said. "The 15-5, because it was the end of the year, was such a mixed bag of teams... We got really dominated in that game."
For Donovan, the focus is on growth and improvement, rather than tanking for draft purposes. The question now is whether the Bulls can turn their season around, or if they're doomed to continue struggling under new leadership.
Jaden Ivey, the team's young point guard, spoke candidly about his own experience playing with a new team. "It feels like a pickup game at the local gym," he said of adjusting to his new teammates and system. "Nobody just comes in and says 'we got it down pat.' You gotta kind of figure it out, and it takes time."
The Bulls' next challenge will be whether they can regroup and find some consistency on the court. With Jokic's impressive performance a reminder that there's still much to learn from other teams, the question remains: where will this team go from here?
denver nuggets destroyed dem 136-120 and nikola jokic was on FIRE 
i mean we get it, he's a superstar but c'mon bulls cant even stop him 
collin sexton had 17 points but thier defense was straight trash esp in da 4th quarter 
but lets be real, how long is it gonna take thm 2 turn things around? 
. Like, I get it they're trying to tank and all, but 136-120 is just embarrassing 
. And Jokic's stats were wild 
22 points, 17 assists, 14 rebounds? That's like a triple-double and then some! 
he's trying his best but it's clear they need to get their act together ASAP 
like, we get it, it takes time... but come on Bulls! 
or if they're gonna keep struggling under new leadership 
. Either way, I'll just be over here rooting for a good draft pick 
They're trying to give up but it's like they can't even do that right. Denver came in and shut them down big time - 136 points! That's a lot of damage. And Jokic was on fire 
And honestly, Jaden Ivey's comment about feeling like he's playing pickup games with his new teammates is super relatable 
. It's tough when you're trying to fit in and learn a new system. Can the Bulls turn things around? We'll just have to wait and see! 
he's been playing so well but it seems like the team is just not clicking yet. and oh man nikola jokic is just on another level right now 
his stats are insane! i'm loving the nuggets' offense, they're so smooth and fun to watch.
15-5 run at the end of last season was cool and all but it's not gonna cut it if they wanna make some noise in the playoffs. jaden ively's comments about feeling like he's playing pickup game are so relatable lol i've been there too, it takes time to adjust to a new team and system.
but still, can't we see some effort from the bulls? they need to figure out who they are as a team and start playing like one. and jaden ivy's comments about it feeling like a pickup game at the local gym is so true, it takes time to adjust but that doesn't mean you should just give up. i'm hoping the bulls can turn it around but for now, it's hard not to feel frustrated 
Let's be real, the Bulls' season has been a rollercoaster ride so far, but I'm still hoping they can turn it around and show some fight. 
. And can we talk about how hard it is for these new players to adjust? Jaden Ivey's comment is so relatable 
. I mean, Collin Sexton is putting up some good numbers but they can't seem to figure out how to defend against Jokic - that guy's a beast! 
.
! maybe its time to shift their focus on growth and improvement instead of just trying to get a draft pick 
. niko jokic is definitely a beast though 
, but i think the nuggets did pretty well too 
! what do u guys think tho? are they tanking for real or just pretending? 
The Bulls were supposed to be tanking for draft picks, but they just can't seem to get it right. It's like they're trying too hard and ending up getting embarrassed on national TV 
Collin Sexton had a solid game, but 7 other players hitting double digits ain't gonna cut it when you're getting blown out by 16 points 
They're trying to "tank" but it's just not working out for them. 
so yeah i feel bad for chicago but they gotta figure it out fast or else they'll be stuck in the tank forever 
. But if they don't start seeing some wins soon, it's going to be tough for them to turn this season around 
denver nuggets are a solid team and jokic is a beast 
collin sexton's 17 points was a nice effort tho 
billy donovan needs to find some consistency for that team ASAP 
. Billy Donovan seems like a great coach who's all about growth and improvement 
! Maybe they just need a few wins under their belt to get things going again 
️. Can't wait to see how this season plays out 
!