CHICAGO – The Chicago Bulls capitalized on Joel Embiid’s absence due to a sprained right ankle, securing a 105-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 24 points, while Coby White contributed 20 points in a game that marked the first of a home-and-home set between the teams.
Andre Drummond stepped up for the Bulls with 15 points and 23 rebounds, filling in admirably for the injured starting center Nikola Vucevic. This performance helped the Bulls dominate the rebounding battle 53-36. Chicago has won five of their last seven games, including both matchups against Philadelphia this season.
Tyrese Maxey was a bright spot for the 76ers with 20 points and seven assists, while Tobias Harris added 15 points. However, the absence of Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP, was keenly felt as the 76ers struggled to match Chicago’s intensity and execution.
The Bulls never trailed in the second half and used a decisive 13-2 run in the final quarter to stretch a five-point lead into a 95-79 advantage. DeRozan was instrumental during this stretch, scoring five crucial points.
Coby White reflected on the team’s resilience after a challenging start to the season, emphasizing the readiness of every player to contribute when needed.
76ers coach Nick Nurse acknowledged the difficulty of the road trip without Embiid, expressing relief at splitting the four games 2-2 under the circumstances.
The Bulls closed the first half strong with an 11-2 run, leading 56-48 at the break. Coach Billy Donovan praised the team’s improvement throughout the game, despite finishing with 16 turnovers.
Injury updates for the Bulls included Vucevic, who missed his third straight game and is doubtful for Tuesday’s rematch, and star Zach LaVine, who has been out for 15 games with a foot injury but could return to practice next week.
The Bulls and 76ers will meet again Tuesday night in Philadelphia, with the potential return of Embiid adding intrigue to the rematch.
