![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/11\/chicago-bulls-vs-new-york-93603460.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024\")
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Normally stoic Bulls center Nikola Vucevic was feeling it Friday.<\/p>\n
With the Bulls leading by seven points in the fourth quarter, Vucevic called for the ball as he drifted toward the left wing. He drove to the basket, attacking Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns off the dribble, and spun in the lane before flipping up a shot at the rim for a basket and a foul.<\/p>\n
Vucevic stared at the packed house at the United Center, beating his chest twice as the fans chanted, \u2018\u2018Voooch!\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
But Vucevic wasn\u2019t done doing his part in closing out the Knicks. On the next possession, he received a pass from guard Tre Jones and found a wide-open Josh Giddey for a key layup that essentially clinched the victory.<\/p>\n
The Bulls\u2019 fast-paced, egalitarian approach to offense passed its first major test against a Knicks team that has dreams of a deep playoff run with a 135-125 triumph in an NBA Cup game at the United Center. The Bulls are 5-0 for the first time since the 1996-97 season and are the last remaining undefeated team in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We understand [that] we need everybody,\u2019\u2019 said Vucevic, who finished with 26 points and seven rebounds. \u2018\u2018We need multiple guys scoring [in] double figures. We don\u2019t have that one go-to guy that can deliver for us every night.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The Bulls were going to learn something about themselves against the Knicks. It\u2019s one thing to face teams who are on similar footing, but it\u2019s another to face one that has tasted playoff success and has the kind of size that can give the Bulls trouble.<\/p>\n
In the first half, the Bulls overwhelmed the Knicks\u2019 defense, scoring 72 points on 59.5% shooting from the field overall and 47.6% from three-point range.<\/p>\n
Near the end of the half, Giddey had the ball with the clock winding down. He already had scored 18 points and had just knocked down a catch-and-shoot three-pointer from the left wing. He watched as the clock dwindled to less than 10 seconds before getting a screen from forward Matas Buzelis.<\/p>\n
The Knicks\u2019 defense was unsure whether to switch or play drop coverage, and Giddey made them pay with a pull-up three. That gave him 21 points on his way to a career-high 32. He also had 10 rebounds and nine assists.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I\u2019m happy here,\u2019\u2019 Giddey said. \u2018\u2018Having confidence from your teammates and coaches to trust me to go out there and make plays, that\u2019s what you need as a player.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The Knicks, however, responded after halftime. They slowed the game down and benefitted from the Bulls\u2019 lack of rim protection. They used a 26-9 run in the third quarter to get themselves right back in the game.<\/p>\n
But the Bulls absorbed the blows, leaning on the connection that has guided them to their early-season success. Coach Billy Donovan said Vucevic provided a calming force when the Bulls were trying to combat the Knicks\u2019 run.<\/p>\n
Despite the victory, the Bulls know these are only five games in a long season. The vibes are high, but sustaining that energy during losing streaks is when their camaraderie really will be put to the test.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018There\u2019s going to be stretches where we\u2019re not winning five in a row and we\u2019re losing games,\u2019\u2019 Giddey said. \u2018\u2018That\u2019s when we\u2019ve got to come even stronger together.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At 5-0, the Bulls are off to their best start since the 1996-97 season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":116113,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n