The Chicago Bulls didn’t just beat the Cleveland Cavaliers — they broke them in the fourth quarter.
In a game that hovered on a knife’s edge through three quarters, Chicago flipped the switch when it mattered most, overwhelming the Cavs with pace, precision, and poise to secure a decisive win. At the center of the late-game surge stood Coby White, who poured in 25 points on ruthless efficiency, and Josh Giddey, who once again orchestrated everything with a commanding 23-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double.
What followed was not a comeback. It was a takeover.
For much of the night, Cleveland believed it was in control. The Cavaliers matched Chicago shot for shot, leaning on their half-court execution and defensive discipline to keep the Bulls from running away. Through three quarters, the margin remained slim, the tension unmistakable.
Then the fourth quarter arrived — and with it, a completely different Bulls team.
Chicago came out aggressive, pushing the tempo, attacking mismatches, and spacing the floor with purpose. The ball moved crisply. The reads were immediate. And Cleveland, suddenly, was a step slow everywhere.
Within minutes, a close contest turned into a gap the Cavaliers never recovered from.
Coby White was surgical.
Finishing with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, White punished every defensive mistake Cleveland made. Whether it was curling off screens, pulling up in transition, or attacking defenders late in the shot clock, White delivered exactly when the Bulls needed separation.
This wasn’t empty scoring. This was momentum-shifting basketball.
Each bucket felt heavier than the last — silencing Cleveland runs before they could begin and energizing the Bulls bench. White didn’t force the issue. He let the game come to him, then took it over when the Cavs blinked.
In the fourth quarter, Chicago needed a closer.
White answered.
If White was the spark, Josh Giddey was the engine.
Giddey posted another masterclass in all-around dominance: 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. The numbers alone tell a story, but they don’t capture the control he exerted over the game’s final stretch.
Giddey dictated pace. He slowed the game when Chicago needed composure and accelerated it when Cleveland showed fatigue. His passing carved open the Cavs’ defense, creating clean looks and high-percentage opportunities.
Perhaps most importantly, he never panicked.
Every possession in the fourth quarter ran through Giddey’s decision-making. He found shooters in rhythm. He attacked the glass to extend possessions. He finished through contact when Cleveland tried to disrupt Chicago’s flow.
This wasn’t flash. This was command.
Chicago’s closing formula was simple — and devastating.
They trusted Giddey to initiate. They let White hunt his spots. And defensively, they tightened rotations, forcing Cleveland into contested jumpers and rushed decisions.
The Cavs struggled to respond. Their offense stalled. Their spacing collapsed. And as Chicago continued to score with ease, frustration set in.
Turnovers followed. Missed assignments piled up. The game slipped away possession by possession.
By the time Cleveland attempted to regroup, the outcome was already sealed.
This victory felt different.
The Bulls didn’t rely on a hot shooting streak or a late whistle. They out-executed Cleveland when the game demanded clarity. They looked organized. They looked connected. They looked like a team that understood how to close.
That hasn’t always been the case for Chicago.
But with Giddey emerging as a steady orchestrator and White thriving in pressure moments, the Bulls are beginning to show an identity — one built on balance rather than chaos.
Josh Giddey’s triple-double wasn’t an anomaly. It was a continuation of a trend. His ability to impact every facet of the game has transformed Chicago’s offensive rhythm, giving the Bulls a player who can stabilize possessions and elevate teammates simultaneously.
Coby White’s efficiency, meanwhile, reinforces his value as a reliable scoring option who doesn’t need high volume to change games.
Together, they give Chicago something it has lacked: a late-game partnership that makes sense.
The Bulls didn’t just survive the fourth quarter.
They owned it.
For the Cavaliers, the loss raises uncomfortable questions. Their inability to respond to Chicago’s pace and execution exposed vulnerabilities — particularly when pressured by a playmaker like Giddey who thrives on reading defensive breakdowns.
Cleveland had opportunities. They didn’t capitalize. And against a Bulls team gaining confidence, that margin for error disappeared fast.
Chicago won’t crown itself after one performance — but nights like this build belief.
A dominant fourth quarter. A star scorer in rhythm. A playmaking leader in total control.
The Bulls didn’t just walk away with a win.
They walked away with momentum — and if performances like this continue, the rest of the league may soon have to take Chicago a lot more seriously.
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