Coby White poured in 28 points, and Talen Horton-Tucker added 27 as the Chicago Bulls secured their place in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament with a 137-118 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
Nikola Vucevic had an efficient performance, shooting 9-of-12 from the field — including 2-of-3 from deep — and finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Toronto was led by Ja’Kobe Walter and Immanuel Quickley, who each scored 17 points. Quickley also tallied nine assists.
The Bulls took control late in the first quarter and never looked back. They ended the opening period on a 30-13 run to erase a 10-point deficit and built a 70-57 lead by halftime. Horton-Tucker kept the momentum going with a team-high 18 points in the second half.
Game Takeaways
Raptors: Toronto entered the game riding a four-game winning streak and had taken six of its last 10 in a late push for the play-in. However, this loss officially eliminated the Raptors from contention.
Bulls: The win locked in a postseason opportunity for Chicago. Coby White, named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March earlier in the day, continued his strong form with another standout performance in 34 minutes.
Key Moment
Leading 76-68 midway through the third, the Bulls unleashed a 10-0 run to break the game open. Vucevic scored six during the stretch, while White added four, pushing Chicago’s lead to 86-68 with 5:31 left in the quarter. They led by as many as 28 in the second half.
Key Stat
Chicago owned the interior, outscoring Toronto 70-44 in the paint and winning the rebound battle 49-35. The Bulls also capitalized at the free-throw line, hitting 23 of 27, while the Raptors managed just 11 attempts, making 10.
Up Next
The Raptors return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. The Bulls will host Portland the following night on Friday.
