The Denver Nuggets outlasted the Chicago Bulls 133-128 in a fast-paced, high-scoring thriller that came down to the final two minutes, with Denver's half-court execution and rebounding advantage proving decisive in a game that featured 20 lead changes and 12 ties. Nikola Jokić anchored the win with another masterpiece, while Chicago's young backcourt kept the Bulls within striking distance until the closing possessions.

Match Overview

• Final score: Denver Nuggets 133, Chicago Bulls 128
• Date: October 12, 2026
• Competition: National Basketball Association
• Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
• Result: Nuggets win at home, improving their early-season home record and extending their recent dominance over Eastern Conference visitors

Both teams shot the ball well from the opening tip, but the difference came in the paint and at the free-throw line. Denver finished with a 52-40 advantage on points in the paint and converted 26 of 30 free throws, while Chicago left points at the stripe in the fourth quarter, going 5 of 9 in the final six minutes.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• First quarter: Nuggets 34, Bulls 31 — Denver opened hot from beyond the arc, hitting five threes in the period, but Chicago answered with transition baskets off live-ball turnovers.
• Second quarter: Bulls 33, Nuggets 30 — Chicago's bench sparked a run to briefly take the lead, with Coby White scoring 11 points in the quarter.
• Third quarter: Nuggets 35, Bulls 30 — Denver reclaimed control behind Jokić's post scoring and a 10-0 run midway through the frame.
• Fourth quarter: Nuggets 34, Bulls 34 — A tense, back-and-forth finish where Denver's execution in the half court separated the teams.

Denver led 99-94 heading into the final quarter, and the Bulls twice tied the game in the last five minutes, including a Josh Giddey floater that made it 124-124 with 2:41 remaining. From there, the Nuggets closed on a 9-4 run to seal it.

Key Moments

The turning point arrived with just under two minutes to play. After Giddey's game-tying basket, Jokić drew a switch on the perimeter and found Aaron Gordon on a backdoor cut for an easy dunk and the lead. On the next possession, Jamal Murray stripped the ball from Chicago's ball handler near midcourt and turned it into a transition layup, pushing the margin to four and forcing a Bulls timeout.

Chicago had one last chance to make it a one-possession game with 34 seconds left, but a contested three-pointer from the wing rimmed out, and Denver iced the game at the free-throw line. The Nuggets went 6 of 6 from the stripe in the final 30 seconds, never allowing the Bulls to set up a clean look at a game-tying shot.

Tactical Story

Denver's offense ran through the high post and elbow actions that have defined the team for years. Jokić operated as the primary hub, punishing Chicago's aggressive pick-and-roll coverage with skip passes to the weak-side corner. The Bulls chose to blitz more frequently in the second half, which generated a handful of steals but also opened up Denver's cutter-friendly offense and led to a number of uncontested looks at the rim.

Chicago's counter was pace. The Bulls pushed the ball off every defensive rebound and attacked before Denver's defense could set, generating 22 fast-break points. Coby White and Giddey combined for most of that production, and Chicago's willingness to shoot early in the clock kept the game from turning into a half-court grind — at least until the final three minutes, when Denver's discipline took over.

The rebounding battle was the quiet difference-maker. Denver grabbed 14 offensive boards and turned them into 21 second-chance points, repeatedly extending possessions at critical moments. Chicago, meanwhile, was out-muscled on the defensive glass in the fourth quarter, giving up three offensive rebounds in the last five minutes alone.

Standout Performers

• Nikola Jokić (DEN): 32 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists — a triple-double that included several of the game's most important passes in crunch time.
• Jamal Murray (DEN): 27 points, 6 assists, 4 steals — the steal-and-score sequence late in the fourth was the defining defensive play of the night.
• Aaron Gordon (DEN): 19 points on efficient shooting, plus the go-ahead dunk in the final two minutes.
• Coby White (CHI): 30 points, 5 rebounds — Chicago's most reliable shot creator, particularly in the second and fourth quarters.
• Josh Giddey (CHI): 22 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds — a near triple-double that kept the Bulls