Washington Wizards 124, Chicago Bulls 120 — Jordan Poole scored 31 points and the Washington Wizards closed the game on a late run to beat the Chicago Bulls 124-120 at the United Center on October 25, 2026. The Wizards trailed by two entering the fourth quarter but outscored Chicago 33-30 in the final period to earn a hard-fought road victory.

Game overview

Chicago led 61-59 at halftime and held a one-point advantage after three quarters. The Bulls seemed poised to protect home court when they took a five-point lead with six minutes left, but Washington responded with a 10-2 run fueled by Poole’s shot-making and Alex Sarr’s activity at the rim. The Bulls had chances to tie in the final minute, but two missed threes and a turnover sealed their fate.

• Q1: Bulls 30-28
• Q2: Wizards 33-29
• Q3: Bulls 31-30
• Q4: Wizards 33-30
• Final: Wizards 124, Bulls 120

Key moments

The decisive sequence began with Washington down 110-106. Poole hit a step-back three, then found Kyle Kuzma for a corner triple after Chicago collapsed on his drive. After a Bulls miss, Sarr tipped in a rebound to give the Wizards a four-point lead. Chicago called timeout, but its next possession ended in a contested mid-range jumper that rimmed out.

Chicago’s Coby White kept the Bulls alive with a pair of tough layups, but Washington answered each time. The Wizards’ ability to score in the paint and get to the free-throw line in the final two minutes proved decisive.

Tactical story

Washington attacked Chicago’s drop coverage in pick-and-roll. Poole used screens to get downhill, and when the Bulls’ big man dropped, he pulled up for threes or hit the roller. Kuzma spaced the floor from the wing and attacked closeouts, while Sarr provided vertical spacing and offensive rebounding.

Chicago’s offense was effective for much of the night. White pushed the pace, Nikola Vucevic scored inside and out, and Josh Giddey created for others. But the Bulls settled for too many threes late and struggled to contain Washington’s dribble penetration in the fourth quarter. Chicago also lost the rebounding battle in the final period, allowing second-chance points that changed the game.

Standout players

Poole’s 31 points led all scorers, and he added six assists. Kuzma finished with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Sarr contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Wizards’ bench also gave them a lift, providing energy and defense during a key second-quarter run.

White led Chicago with 27 points, and Vucevic added 20 points and 11 rebounds. Giddey finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, nearly recording a triple-double. The Bulls got balanced production, but they could not get the stops they needed in the final three minutes.

What it means

The win is a confidence boost for Washington and a reminder that the Wizards can compete on the road when their guards control the tempo. For Chicago, the loss is a frustrating home defeat in a game that was there for the taking. The Bulls will need to clean up their late-game shot selection and defensive rebounding as the season progresses.

Washington’s late-game execution was the difference. Poole’s shot creation and the Wizards’ ability to generate extra possessions allowed them to steal a win in a building where Chicago has traditionally been strong.