The Chicago Bulls are riding high after a gutsy 109-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center on December 26, 2025, a win that not only extended their streak to five games but also signaled a new level of resilience for this young squad. For a team that had recently lost eight out of nine games, the turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. Friday night’s performance, broadcast nationally on Amazon Prime Video and NBCS-PH, was a showcase of depth, determination, and timely heroics, especially in the game’s dramatic final minutes.
Coming into the contest, the Bulls (14-15) were looking to claw their way back to a .500 record, while the 76ers (16-12) presented a formidable challenge with their star-studded lineup, including Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George. The atmosphere was electric, with fans still buzzing from the holiday festivities and the added spotlight of national television coverage. The United Center was alive, sensing that this could be a statement night for Chicago’s resurgent squad.
Early on, it looked like the Sixers might spoil the party. Philadelphia surged out of the gates, scoring 13 of the game’s first 15 points in just over three minutes, outhustling the Bulls to loose balls and pushing the pace. Joel Embiid, who had been questionable due to a right knee injury, showed no signs of rust, pacing all scorers with 16 first-half points on 6-for-10 shooting. Tyrese Maxey chipped in 12 by the break, and Paul George proved a handful on both ends.
The Bulls, however, refused to fold. A 12-2 run, fueled by three-pointers from Nikola Vucevic, rookie Matas Buzelis, and Josh Giddey, brought Chicago back into the game. By halftime, the Sixers held a slim 52-49 lead, but the momentum was shifting. Zach Collins led the Bulls with 10 points at the break, setting the stage for a wild second half.
The third quarter was a shootout, with both teams catching fire from beyond the arc. Embiid and Maxey each drilled threes during a quick 8-0 run for Philadelphia, but Buzelis answered with a deep ball of his own. The teams combined for 21-for-41 shooting in the quarter, including 13-for-23 from three-point range. Embiid scored 11 in the period, helping the Sixers build an 85-81 advantage before leaving the game in the final minute of the quarter. Fortunately for Philadelphia, their big man would return midway through the fourth, but the Bulls had already found their groove.
It was in the final frame where Chicago’s depth and defensive tenacity truly shone. Coby White, who had been quiet for much of the night, erupted for nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. His driving layup tied the game at 96 with just over five minutes to play, and his step-back three-pointer with 1:54 remaining gave the Bulls a 104-102 lead—a lead they would not relinquish. "That I was nasty," White’s teammate Tre Jones said of Jalen Smith’s earlier thunderous dunk over Embiid, which had cut the deficit to one and electrified the crowd. "I feel like usually he doesn’t really dunk it. He’ll just drop it in and kind of finger roll it. He finally turned it over and dunked it. That was huge for us."
Smith’s dunk was more than just two points; it was a momentum-shifter for a Bulls team that had struggled from the perimeter all night. The Bulls’ offense, which had been throwing up clunkers from three, found new life in that moment. The bench, which accounted for an impressive 59 points, continued to deliver. Zach Collins and Tre Jones led the way with 15 points apiece, while Josh Giddey posted a double-double of 12 points and 11 assists. Jalen Smith added 12 points and eight rebounds, and rookie Matas Buzelis chipped in 10 points and eight boards of his own.
Defensively, Chicago was relentless. The Sixers, who entered the game averaging 116.6 points per contest, were held to just 37.6% shooting from the field and a mere 23.8% in the decisive fourth quarter. The Bulls forced Philadelphia to miss their final six shots, including a key defensive stand after White’s go-ahead three. On the other end, Tre Jones came up with two huge offensive rebounds and eventually scored a game-sealing layup on Chicago’s second-to-last possession. "When guys don’t have great size or length, you don’t look at them as being physical," Bulls coach Billy Donovan noted. "[Jones] is just in tune to what’s going on in the game." Collins, who also tied for the team lead in scoring, praised his teammate’s basketball IQ: "You just got to give all the credit to [Jones’] IQ. He knows where to be in those moments, and [Donovan] puts a lot of trust in him."
Perhaps most impressive was Chicago’s ability to out-hustle a Sixers team known for its physicality. The Bulls finished plus-six on the glass, with Smith and Buzelis each grabbing eight rebounds. For a team not typically lauded for its defense, this was a night where grit trumped glamour. Donovan has emphasized all season the need for contributions from every player, and that was evident with six Bulls finishing in double figures. "Everybody’s kind of having a good run right now," Collins reflected. "We’re crashing the glass a little bit more, just playing a little bit harder and obviously that’s easier when things are going well. We’re winning games and the vibes are high. So we just got to make sure we keep doing those things here."
The Bulls’ recent surge has coincided with improved health. Aside from Noa Essengue’s season-ending shoulder injury, Chicago had a full rotation available for the first time in months. The chemistry that had eluded them during a brutal seven-game losing streak now seems to be blossoming. The bench’s 59-point outburst, the defensive lockdown in crunch time, and the ability to close out a tough opponent all point to a team finding its identity at just the right moment.
With Milwaukee and Minnesota looming on the schedule, the challenge will be to maintain this level of intensity and execution. But if Friday’s performance was any indication, the Bulls are ready to keep the good vibes rolling. The season series clinched against the Sixers is a feather in their cap, but the real test lies ahead. For now, though, Chicago fans can savor a win built on heart, hustle, and a little bit of holiday magic.
