Bulls Bench Shows Up Big But 4th Quarter Meltdown Dooms Bulls To First Losing Streak Of Season

The Chicago Bulls squandered a 19-point lead in a crushing 128-122 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, exposing critical execution flaws and questionable coaching decisions. Host Haize breaks down Billy Donovan's puzzling choice to bench red-hot Jalen Smith (18 points, 11 rebounds, plus-17) in favor of struggling Nikola Vucevic during crunch time, despite Smith's perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance. The Bulls' bench exploded for 58 points—led by Jaylen Johnson's flawless outing and strong contributions from Patrick Williams, Kevin Huerter, and Ayo Dosunmu—yet late-game mismanagement and Josh Giddey's ankle injury derailed Chicago's momentum. Matas Buzelis struggled significantly, while the absence of Coby White became glaringly apparent in critical fourth-quarter possessions. With the Bulls now 6-3 and facing their first losing streak of the season, this analysis reveals what went wrong and what must change as they prepare for upcoming matchups against San Antonio, Detroit, and Utah. Tune in for an unfiltered breakdown of this winnable game that slipped away.Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPodGet at us:Email: [email protected]:@BullsCentralPodPhone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chicago-bulls-central/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy