Bulls vs. Bucks: Norman Powell scores 25, rookie Caleb Wilson adds 21 as Chicago holds off Milwaukee 132-125

The Chicago Bulls bounced back from a rough opening night. Norman Powell scored 25 points, rookie Caleb Wilson added 21, and Chicago beat the Milwaukee Bucks 132-125 on Friday, Oct. 23, at Fiserv Forum for its first win of the season.

The game tipped off four hours earlier than originally planned because the Milwaukee Brewers were hosting Game 1 of the World Series that night, the Associated Press reported. Chicago is now 1-1 after a 135-92 loss at Toronto on Wednesday. Milwaukee, which also lost its opener in Washington, is 0-2.

Bulls vs. Bucks final score

How the Bulls came back

For a while, it looked like another blowout. Milwaukee assisted on nine of its first 11 baskets and led by as many as 15, while Chicago shot 7 of 27 in the first quarter, including 1 of 14 from 3-point range, according to Sports Illustrated’s Bulls site.

The turnaround came from the bench. A second unit of Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, Buddy Hield, Noa Essengue and Leonard Miller sparked a 16-0 run in the second quarter that gave Chicago a 55-51 lead. The Bulls scored 44 points in that quarter on 65.2% shooting, and their bench outscored Milwaukee’s 59-35 for the game, SI reported.

After halftime, Chicago kept attacking the rim. The Bulls went 17 of 22 in the restricted area over the final two quarters and finished with a 62-44 edge in the paint. The teams traded leads late before Chicago sealed it at the free-throw line.

Norman Powell leads the way

Powell set the tone when the offense was stuck. He had 19 points by halftime, including 7 of 7 from the line in the second quarter alone, SI noted. He finished with 25 to lead the Bulls.

Caleb Wilson stats

In just his second NBA game, Wilson looked far more comfortable. He finished with:

• 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting
• 5 of 6 from the free-throw line
• 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks

He scored 12 of his points in the third quarter on 5-of-7 shooting, including two 3-pointers, and then made four straight free throws to ice the game, per SI.

Bulls vs. Bucks player stats

Sources: AP, Sports Illustrated.

Not everyone had a good night. Matas Buzelis scored seven points on 2-of-9 shooting and was benched down the stretch in favor of the second unit, SI reported.

Tyler Herro’s big night in a losing effort

For Milwaukee, Tyler Herro scored 34 points. Herro, a Milwaukee-area native, was one of four players sent to the Bucks in the offseason trade that moved Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, the AP noted. Fellow former Heat player Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Before the game, the Bucks held a moment of silence and later showed a halftime video tribute for Don Nelson, the winningest coach in franchise history, who died Aug. 9 at 86.

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