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The Chicago Bulls responded to a humiliating 43-point defeat against the Toronto Raptors by securing a 132-125 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, completing a 15-point comeback in the process. The win underscored the importance of finishing strong rather than starting well, as the team's closing lineup differed significantly from its opening group.
Chicago's starting five featured Caleb Wilson, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Smith. However, down the stretch, Giddey, Smith, and Buzelis watched from the bench while Leonard Miller, Tre Jones, and Isaac Okoro joined Wilson and Powell to close out the game.
Splitter's Approach to Lineup Changes
Following the win, head coach Tiago Splitter explained his reasoning for mixing and matching lineups based on game situations, as reported by Will Gottlieb of CHGO_Bulls. Splitter stressed that while finishing groups can vary nightly, altering the starting lineup based on individual performance fluctuations would lead to instability. "You've got to see, game-by-game, who's going to finish the game. But you cannot change the starting lineup every time a guy plays well or plays bad. If not, you go crazy; you change every game," he said.
The strategy paid dividends, with several players delivering strong performances. Powell led all scorers with 25 points, converting all nine of his free-throw attempts. Wilson contributed 21 points and six rebounds, while Miller added 19 points off the bench. Okoro chipped in 12 points, Jones scored 11, and Buddy Hield tallied 13. Conversely, Buzelis and Giddey struggled, finishing with 7 and 6 points, respectively; Giddey had been listed as probable with a left wrist injury prior to the game.
The Bulls will look to build on this momentum when they host the Washington Wizards in their home opener on Saturday.
Originally reported by yahoo.