NBA: Matas Buzelis pours in 41 points to propel Bulls past Warriors in OT

Matas Buzelis capped a career-best 41-point performance, adding five points in overtime, as the Chicago Bulls outlasted the Golden State Warriors 130-124 on Tuesday night. Josh Giddey recorded his second straight triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 17 assists, while Tre Jones added 22 points, all contributing to Chicago’s overtime surge.

The Bulls dominated the extra five minutes 12-6, taking advantage of a tired Warriors squad playing the second night of a back-to-back, and snapped a two-game losing streak. Four Warriors, including Kristaps Porzingis in his second home game in San Francisco, scored 17 points each. Golden State was just 1.4 seconds away from a regulation win before Jalen Smith drew a foul on a desperation 21-footer and converted two free throws to tie the game at 118.

Buzelis opened overtime with a six-foot shot, and Jones followed with a driving layup, giving Chicago a lead they never surrendered. The Warriors had rallied with a 19-2 run late in the fourth quarter to take a short-lived advantage, but missed free throws in the closing seconds allowed the Bulls to respond.

After falling behind 103-91 following a Buzelis 3-pointer with 7:58 remaining, the Warriors mounted a late push, building an eight-point lead with 1:31 left. However, Chicago outscored Golden State in the final 6 1/2 minutes to secure the win.

Buzelis shot 16-for-28 overall, including 5-for-15 from three-point range, surpassing his previous career high by nine points. Other Bulls contributors included Smith (12 points, 12 rebounds), Leonard Miller (17 points, 11 rebounds), and Nick Richards (10 points, 10 rebounds), all recording double-doubles.

For the Warriors, Cryer, Gui Santos, Pat Spencer, and Porzingis each scored 17 points. Al Horford (13 points), Draymond Green (12), and Gary Payton II, who recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds, also scored in double figures.

-Field Level Media/Reuters