The Denver Nuggets returned home to Ball Arena to face a tired Chicago Bulls team coming in on the second night of a back to back. It looked like the opposite scenario though with the Bulls running all night long. Despite huge games from Denver’s big three, Chicago couldn’t be stopped on offense and ultimately overcame two Nuggets comebacks to secure a victory in the final moments of the game. Disappointing to see Denver take a loss to a .500 team, but the show rolls on after their 130-127 defeat.

Peyton Watson opened the game by immediately knocking down a corner three but that would be the only field goal Denver got in 2+ minutes. Luckily, the Bulls weren’t doing any better and couldn’t take advantage. The Nuggets found their rhythm first and got a lead but still left plenty of meat on the bone in the early part of the game. That prevented them from blowing the game open early and midway through the first their lead was just four points. Matas Buzelis started heating up for the Bulls while Aaron Gordon had most of the offense on Denver’s side. Buzelis was doing better though and at about the three minute mark the Bulls tied the game at 24. Chicago started hitting every three they threw up while everything was short for Denver. That got the Bulls the lead, and they ended the first in front 30-28.

Little swing dancin’ to three pic.twitter.com/0r95Qtuxow

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 18, 2025

The second started much the way the first ended with the Nuggets looking sloppy and the Bulls canning threes. David Adelman had to take a timeout after Chicago opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run. After that became a 16-2 run he was calling his team back over to talk it out again. Denver was just playing with far less energy than the Bulls and it was spelling disaster for the first six minutes of the quarter. Eventually they stopped the bleeding, but the damage was done with Chicago up by more than a dozen. Denver chipped away a bit with Nikola Jokic starting to force the issue at the basket. The momentum started swinging their way and the Nuggets went on a 19-6 run. Jamal Murray capped the run with a long three and tied the game at 56 with just over two minutes to go in the half. The teams traded threes down the stretch (Cam Johnson mostly on Denver’s side), Watson had a monster block, Jokic was an assist shy of a triple double and the Nuggets went to the locker room up 64-63.

Swatson said NO ❌
Cam said YES 👌 pic.twitter.com/guqir7eyHb

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 18, 2025

The pace continued to be frenetic to open the second and neither team could find any separation on the scoreboard. AG started playing bully ball which was quite effective but Chicago just kept bombing away at threes. The lead went back and forth as we reached the midway point of the third with Denver attacking the paint but looking pretty lackadaisical on defense. Things got a bit sloppy and though Jokic kept things from getting out of hand the Bulls went on a 16-3 run and took a 95-85 lead. Things started getting chippy while the refs let Chicago absolutely hammer Denver and that earned the Nuggets both a technical foul (Adelman) and a flagrant foul (Tim Hardaway Jr.). Denver found a little offense at the end of the quarter as Jokic finally started to get some calls but once again there was very little defense on the other side. In the end they let Chicago score 40 in the third and went to the fourth trailing 103-93.

Shuffle mode 🔛 pic.twitter.com/3pjywADuOZ

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 18, 2025

The Bulls started the quarter doing what they did all night, running up the court and getting easy buckets in transition. The Nuggets stayed within striking distance though, after six straight points from Murray they were down 110-104. He scored the first fourteen points for Denver in the quarter before cooling off. Chicago was cooling off as well though and you could tell the game was there for the taking. Jokic started taking control, he drew a foul on a three pointer but hit only two of three free throws and Denver was still a point behind. It was clear both teams were completely gassed and suddenly getting any sort of field goal attempt to go down seemed like a massive lift. After a Murray layup finally took the lid off the basket Jokic buried a three in Nikola Vucevic’s eye to put the Nuggets up two with just under two to go. Chicago immediately scored five straight points. They got within one but Vuc hit a big three, Denver challenged a play that wasn’t overturned because the replay was “non-conclusive” and then what looked like a jump ball was ruled a Chicago timeout. Just wasn’t meant to be. The Bulls did their work at the free throw line and survived to steal the win from Denver 130-127.

VOOCH WITH THE CLUTCH THREE.@NikolaVucevic | @CHSN__ pic.twitter.com/qiPsGgkUek

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 18, 2025