Josh Giddey flaunted his passing game in his best performance for the season but the Chicago Bulls’ losing streak ended to seven at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Giddey put up season highs in points (19) and assists (15) to go with seven rebounds and a steal in Monday’s (all times AEDT) 127-121 home loss to Philadelphia.
Watch an average of 9 LIVE Regular Season games per week of the NBA regular season plus the best of the NBA Playoffs LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Sports | Get Kayo now >
Even though the 1-8 Bulls didn’t get the win, it was a needed bounce-back from the Aussie and his third double-double for the season after a slow start, having averaged 9.3 points per game, 4.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists.
Matas Buzelis also chipped in 19 points after his own quiet start to the 2026/27 campaign as Chicago tied its third-worst nine-game start in team history.
Jaylen Brown’s 29 points led all Sixers starters in double figures including 27 to Tyrese Maxey — who poured in 15 in the fourth quarter — and season-best 22 to LeBron James. With it, the Sixers improved their NBA-best record to 9-2 in the new-look contender’s best start to a season since it went 10-1 to open the 2000/01 season.
Giddey was aggressive facilitating early with seven assists in the first six minutes of the game to help set the tone for the Bulls to try and overcome their slump.
After a competitive first half, Philadelphia finished strong t0 take a 68-61 lead into the main break.
The Sixers were able to push their advantage out to double figures in the third term behind the lead of Maxey and Brown, but Chicago consistently pulled it back to stay in striking distance.
With Chicago down six at the last change, Giddey was instrumental in keeping the hosts in the game with nine points in seven minutes. He assisted on a Caleb Wilson 3-pointer to get the Bulls within three at 116-113 with 3:31 remaining.
But it’s the closest the Bulls got down the stretch as a series of Brown free throws in the final minute sealed the win for Philly.
It marked Chicago’s second loss to the Sixers within a week as part of a brutal schedule to begin the season. The challenges keep coming for the Bulls ahead of home games against San Antonio and Atlanta, followed by an away stand in Minnesota, Cleveland and Brooklyn.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia faces Brown’s old side, Boston, for the first time on Wednesday.