Bulls Secure Fifth Straight Win Over 76ers In NBA Showdown

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Jalen Smith’s late dunk on Joel Embiid launched a decisive 10-0 surge, sealing the Chicago Bulls’ 109-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers and stretching their streak to five games, while the Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz also earned victories highlighted by strong guard play, hot three-point shooting and key injury and fitness concerns.

The Bulls closed out Philadelphia by scoring the final 10 points after trailing 102-99 with 2:45 left. That stretch helped Chicago match its longest winning run of the season and brought the overall record level at 15-15, delivering another reminder of the team’s recent defensive focus and late-game composure against one of the Eastern Conference leaders.

Embiid powered the 76ers with 31 points, while Tyrese Maxey added 27 points and made five 3-pointers, but the team slipped to a fourth defeat in as many games featuring Embiid, Maxey and Paul George together, despite George producing 15 points and a season-best 12 rebounds in a performance that grew stronger after a slow opening stretch.

The decisive Chicago push began when Smith attacked the baseline and finished a powerful dunk over a rotating Embiid with about 2:30 remaining, lifting the home crowd, before Coby White drilled a step-back three-pointer, Tre Jones scored twice at the rim and Nikola Vucevic produced a crucial block on a driving Maxey during the final minute.

Jones and Zach Collins each supplied 15 points for Chicago and White finished with 13, supporting Smith’s momentum-changing play and enabling the Bulls to equal their 5-0 start earlier this season, while Philadelphia’s offence stalled completely after Embiid’s final basket in the post, leaving the visitors scoreless over the closing 2:45.

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The Hornets controlled their meeting with the Orlando Magic 120-105, yet the result came with concern after rookie forward Kon Knueppel, who ranks second among NBA rookies in both scoring and three-point percentage, exited in the first half with a right ankle injury following a strong offensive burst.

Knueppel had already delivered 16 points, all in the opening quarter, hitting four of four from long range before going down near the end of the second quarter with Charlotte holding a 57-48 advantage, and coach Charles Lee later confirmed X-rays were negative, with further assessment planned once the team returns to Charlotte.

LaMelo Ball guided Charlotte’s attack with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Miles Bridges posted 16 points and 11 rebounds and Moussa Diabate added 10 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Hornets shoot 19-of-39 from three-point distance, reach a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter and withstand Orlando’s response led by Anthony Black’s 24 points.

Utah Jazz NBA thriller against Detroit Pistons

In Detroit, Keyonte George scored 31 points and hit a floater in the lane with 2.1 seconds remaining as the Utah Jazz edged the Pistons 131-129, ending a four-game losing streak in a matchup that featured efficient offence from both teams and an extended playmaking display by Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham finished with 29 points and 17 assists, including a personal-best 13 assists in the first half, yet missed a contested attempt at the buzzer before holding a long conversation with officials, while Lauri Markkanen added 30 points and Brice Sensabaugh matched a season high with 20 points for Utah, stepping in after Ace Bailey left the game’s second half with a hip injury.

Tobias Harris contributed 16 points for Detroit, which fell for only the second time in nine outings despite hitting 52.2% from the field and making 18 of 37 three-point attempts, as Utah’s late execution, highlighted by George’s winner, ensured the Jazz joined the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets in closing out tight NBA contests on December 27, 2025.