NEW YORK — The Chicago Bulls played the 4,839th game in the franchise’s 60-year history Friday night.
Only 14 times had they suffered a worse loss than the 136-96 defeat to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
OG Anunoby scored 31 points, Mitchell Robinson had 17 points and 11 rebounds and the Knicks routed the Bulls in a game they led by 47 points. Anunoby was 9 for 15 from the field, including 7 for 10 from 3-point range, and Robinson made each of his seven shots starting in place of All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who did not play because of a right elbow impingement.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan, right, looks on during the second half of a 136-96 loss to the Knicks on Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (Heather Khalifa/AP)
The 40-point setback was the Bulls’ second-worst of the season; they fell to the Heat by 43 points — 134-91 — on Feb. 1 in Miami. The Bulls’ 133-77 loss to the Boston Celtics on Dec. 8, 2018, at the United Center was the most lopsided in franchise history.
Collin Sexton scored 19 points off the bench for the Bulls, who have lost six straight and 10 of 12. They are 5-23 since the start of February.
All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson had 17 points and 10 assists to help the Knicks win their second consecutive game after dropping three in a row.
For the Knicks (50-28), the blowout victory cemented their third consecutive season with at least 50 wins — a feat the club had not accomplished since the 1991-92 to 1993-94 campaigns. The Knicks lost the 1994 NBA Finals to the Houston Rockets and were able to surpass the 50-win plateau the following season.
The Knicks led 38-16 after one quarter by taking advantage of the Bulls’ offensive struggles as they went on an 18-0 run before Sexton’s 3-pointer cut the visitors’ deficit to 20-4 with 5:25 remaining in the period. The Bulls missed 10 shots and had five turnovers during the woeful stretch.
The Knicks overwhelmed the Bulls by outscoring them 40-25 in the second quarter to lead 78-41 at the break.
Up next
Bulls: vs. Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.
Knicks: at Atlanta on Monday night.