Windy City Wrap Up: Bulls Bring Fifth Straight Loss While Bears March On Victoriously

This week in Chicago sports produced three losses from the Bulls, one loss and one victory from the Blackhawks and a third straight win from the Bears, giving fans disappointment with the occasional bout of hope.

The Bulls started the week in Chicago sports, facing off against the San Antonio Spurs Nov. 10 at the United Center. The match ended 121-117 with the Spurs surging past the Bulls to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls trailed behind San Antonio in the first quarter, not quite catching up to the Spurs’ eight-point lead at 34-26 until the second quarter, when the Bulls pulled ahead and remained in the lead going into the final 12 minutes with the scoreboard sitting at 98-89.

With a minute on the clock, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama tied the game at 114 with a three-point pull-up and continued to dominate the fourth quarter, scoring 15 more points to secure the win for the Spurs — tallying 38 by the end of the game while guard Kevin Huerter led the Bulls with 23 points.

The Detroit Pistons hosted the Bulls two days later Nov. 12 and found success on their home floor, defeating Chicago 124-113.

In the first minute, Detroit forward Duncan Robinson scored three with a jump shot, allowing the Pistons to immediately take control of the game as the Bulls trailed behind, not once surpassing Detroit. The Pistons finished 56% from the field, sinking 50 out of 90 attempts, while the Bulls fell at 48% securing 41- 86 shots made.

Four days later, the Bulls headed to Salt Lake City, where they tallied a fifth loss against the Utah Jazz Nov. 17. The game sat in a stalemate with the fourth quarter ending with a 127 tie, until the second overtime when Jazz guard Keyonte George sank a 27-foot 3-pointer in the final three seconds, defeating the Bulls 150-147.

Shooting guard Josh Giddey was back in the starting lineup for Chicago after sitting out the previous two games due to a sprained ankle. Giddey was second in points, tallying 26, just under guard Coby White’s leading 27, while forward Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 47 points.

In the hockey realm, the Blackhawks’ winning streak ended with a 4-3 loss against the New Jersey Devils Nov. 12 after Devils’ defenseman Simon Nemec scored three minutes into overtime, producing his first career hat trick to carry a win over Chicago.

With under two minutes remaining in the first period, New Jersey received two penalties, allowing Blackhawks center Connor Bedard to bury the puck in a 5-on-3 power play after a pass from center Teuvo Teravainen.

The Devils responded in the second period when Nemec put away his first goal of the game off a feed from center Nico Hischier, tying the match at one with 15 seconds left in the period.

Chicago promptly retook control of the scoreboard in the tumultuous third period when defenseman Louis Crevier sent out a point shot and left winger Landon Slaggert deflected it to tuck it into the net to take the lead 2-2.

Seven minutes later, the Devils settled the score at two after center Dawson Mercer sent a one-timer between the posts off a long pass from center Jack Hughes. The Blackhawks battled to take the lead back six minutes later after center Sam Lafferty broke away from the Devils’ defense, sending a drive into the net, taking the lead at 3-2.

New Jersey responded with an equalizer three minutes later with Nemec at the helm of the one-timer, assisted by right winger Stefan Noesen. Finally, Nemec completed his hat trick to defeat the Blackhawks. New Jersey outshot Chicago 37-20 and the Blackhawks continue to sit fourth in the Central Division.

Four days later, the Blackhawks took on the Toronto Maple Leafs at the United Center Nov. 15. Chicago center Colton Dach broke the stalemate in the final minutes of the third period to rally past Toronto and carry out a comeback victory 3-2.

Center Ryan Greene buried the puck with a snapshot 11 minutes into the first period after a feed from defenseman Artyom Levshunov, giving the Blackhawks the first lead at 1-0. Eight minutes later, left winger Nicholas Robertson tucked one away to level the score at one.

Toronto took the lead in the second period off a wrist shot from defenseman Morgan Reilly. Chicago challenged the goal, arguing a high stick pass, but it was ruled legal and the Maple Leafs held at 2-1.

The Blackhawks notched two goals in the third period. After center Frank Nazar sent a backhand pass to Teravainen, the puck was buried in between the posts, tying the match at two. With five minutes left in the game, Dach put away a game-winning shot off an assist from defenseman Louis Crevier. The Blackhawks now stand 9-5-4 following the win.

Week 11 for the Bears — who now lead in the NFC North — produced a 19-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Minnesota led the first quarter after a 31-yard field goal from placekicker Will Reichard, but Chicago took control in the second quarter. After running back Kyle Monangai scored a touchdown, placekicker Cairo Santos secured the extra point. Santos then widened the lead with a 38-yard field goal, taking the score to 10-3.

After halftime, Santos carried the third quarter with two more field goal attempts, giving the Bears an extra six points.

In the fourth quarter, the Vikings took the lead with two touchdowns. Running back Jordan Mason rushed to the right for 16 yards and six points as Reichard made the extra point. A few minutes later, quarterback J.J. McCarthy passed to wide receiver Jordan Addison to secure the second touchdown, and Reichard’s extra point was good, giving the Vikings the lead at 17-16.

With 50 seconds left in the game, the Vikings’ defense was unable to prevent a 48-yard field goal from Santos, giving the Bears the final three points they needed to notch their third straight win.

The Bears will return to Chicago to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Nov. 23. The Blackhawks also remain at home, hosting the Calgary Flames Nov. 18, while the Bulls and the Denver Nuggets face off Nov. 17.