Nikola Vucevic delivered the dagger as he buried a buzzer beating three that lifted the Chicago Bulls to a 122-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in a wild finish on the road.
Portland mounted a fierce push in Thursday’s matchup, nearly flipping the script with a massive fourth quarter run. After trailing by 16 at the start of the period, the Blazers stormed back, and a Deni Avdija three knotted the game at 116 with just over a minute to play.
A Donovan Clingan and-one nudged Portland ahead, and Avdija followed by converting only one of his free throws, giving the Blazers a 120 – 116 cushion with 16.2 seconds left.
Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Coby White kept Chicago afloat by drilling a deep three that chopped the deficit to 120 to 119, and Jerami Grant’s split at the line opened the door for one last push. Vucevic walked right through it and delivered the winner.
Josh Giddey started the action by delivering the inbound to White, who attacked the paint and then kicked the ball out to Vucevic in the corner. Vucevic rose up and drilled the heart breaker for the Blazers, as the Bulls erupted the moment it splashed through.
Nikola Vucevic on his game-winner
Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
“It felt good, I didn’t make any shots in the fourth … just not a great fourth quarter for me overall and the team … I just felt confident in my shot, and glad it went in, glad we got the win,” Nikola Vucevic said during his post-game interview via CHSN. “Obviously, I wish we closed the game off sooner, but it feels great to get the game-winner, it feels special, you always enjoy them a lot.”
“Coby made a great play and I just felt confident in my shot.”
Nikola Vucevic joins @KCJHoop for an instant reaction after his second game-winning three of the season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hr67xmymi8
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) November 20, 2025
Asked about the Bulls’ resilience after giving up the lead, Vucevic said it reflects well on the group but also came with a warning. “It says a lot, but we can’t always sit here and talk about resilience. At some point, we have to beat a team that once we do get up 10-15, almost 20 points tonight, stay with our foot on the gas and finish the game off.”
Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Vucevic powered the Bulls with 27 points and White chipped in 25 off the bench. Giddey didn’t have his cleanest outing, shooting 3-of-9 for nine points with five turnovers, but he still handed out 13 assists and pulled down five boards.
The 35-year-old hit his second straight game-winner, building on a decisive three-pointer that secured a tight win over Denver earlier in the week. The Bulls wrapped up their Northwest road trip with a 2-1 record and are riding a two-game winning streak after dropping five in a row.
Chicago Bulls’ Coby White sounds off on Nikola Vucevic
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