NBA: Bulls match third-longest skid in team history with loss to Blazers

Jerami Grant scored 27 points and Toumani Camara added 16 to lead the visiting Portland Trail Blazers to a 121-112 victory over the struggling Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

Robert Williams III recorded 14 points, a season-high 14 rebounds, and four blocked shots, while fellow reserve Vit Krejci also contributed 14 points as Portland won for the sixth time in its past nine games. Scoot Henderson added 12 points despite the team playing without All-Star Deni Avdija (back) and big man Donovan Clingan (illness). Jrue Holiday had 10 points and seven assists, with Kris Murray and backup Blake Wesley also scoring 10 points each.

For the Bulls, Matas Buzelis led with 20 points and seven rebounds, and Tre Jones added 19 points off the bench. Chicago dropped its 11th straight game, tying the third-longest losing streak in franchise history. Josh Giddey had 15 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, Nick Richards posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, and Isaac Okoro contributed 12 points. Leonard Miller and Collin Sexton added 11 and 10 points, respectively, as the Bulls committed 22 turnovers that resulted in 22 Portland points.

Portland shot 44.2% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, making just 10 of 46 attempts (21.7%). Chicago shot 50% overall and 30% from three-point range (9 of 30).

The Trail Blazers built a 15-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Bulls cut it to three with a 15-3 run. Miller’s dunk brought Chicago within 108-105 with 3:37 remaining. Portland responded with a key 3-pointer from Grant and a dunk by Murray, sparking an 11-4 run that gave the Blazers a 113-105 lead. Two free throws by Holiday with 25.8 seconds left sealed the victory.

Chicago trailed by six at halftime before Giddey’s three-pointer tied the score at 75 late in the third quarter. Portland then scored nine straight points, highlighted by Matisse Thybulle’s reverse layup, to lead 91-80. Entering the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers held a 93-86 advantage and extended the lead to 105-90 with 9:02 remaining, capped by Wesley’s four points. Grant had 16 points in the first half, while Jones scored 15 for the Bulls.

-Field Level Media/Reuters