Josh Giddey etched his name into Chicago Bulls lore on Thursday night with a jaw-dropping half-court buzzer-beater, completing a stunning 119-117 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in what might be the most thrilling NBA finish this season.
With the Bulls trailing by five points and just 13 seconds left at the United Center, the game appeared all but over. Then, chaos ensued.
The Unbelievable Finish
Chicago hit three three-pointers in the final 10 seconds, capped off by Giddey’s impossible heave from beyond half-court as the buzzer sounded.
The 21-year-old guard, who also notched a triple-double with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, calmly walked away as his teammates erupted in celebration.
“Special moment to do it with these guys, this team,” Giddey said, still in disbelief.
His performance made history, as he became the first player ever to record a triple-double and hit a buzzer-beater to defeat the Lakers, according to Basketball-Reference.
The Bulls’ furious comeback began with Patrick Williams drilling a three with 9.8 seconds left.
Seconds later, Giddey stole a LeBron James pass and found Coby White, who sank another triple to give Chicago a 116-115 lead with just 6.1 seconds remaining.
Austin Reaves momentarily restored the Lakers’ lead with a layup, but with 3.3 seconds left, Chicago had one last chance.
Giddey inbounded to Williams, got the ball back, and let fly from just inside his own half. The crowd held its breath. Swish. Bedlam.
LeBron Takes the Blame, Lakers Stunned
For the Lakers, the loss was nothing short of gut-wrenching.
“We put ourselves in position to win, gave up a lot of 3s in the fourth quarter, still put ourselves in position to win,” James said.
“Horrible turnover by myself, miscommunication the play before that. AR tried to save us. Tip your hats.”
The Lakers had led by 13 points midway through the fourth quarter and were still ahead 115-110 with 12.6 seconds left. But their defensive collapse and James’ costly turnover proved fatal.
Head coach JJ Redick described the locker room atmosphere in one word: “Devastation.”
“It’s a hell of a way to lose a basketball game,” Redick added.
Bulls’ Wild Resurgence Continues
Chicago’s season was written off just a month ago. After trading Zach LaVine to Sacramento, the Bulls slumped to a 22-35 record, seemingly heading toward another lost campaign.
But since then, they’ve gone 11-5, knocking off contenders like Denver, Indiana, and the Lakers—twice.
Giddey and White have been at the heart of the resurgence. White, who had scored 35 or more in three straight games, finished with 26 points.
“We’ve shown over the last month to six weeks that we can beat anybody,” Giddey said. “The way we play the game, I think it wears people down.”
The Bulls now have their eyes firmly on the playoffs, and if this game proved anything, it’s that they’re a team no one wants to face in crunch time.
