ATLANTA (AP) — Matas Bouzelis scored 28 points and led nine Chicago players in double figures and the Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks 152-150 on Sunday in the NBA's highest-scoring game this season.
Chicago set season highs in first-half and game points and held on in the final seconds in the first of two straight games in Atlanta. The teams will meet again on Tuesday evening.
The Bulls topped their previous high in first-half points, taking an 83–73 lead. They scored 72 first-half points in a 128-122 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 8. The Bulls also set a season record for scoring in a game, surpassing their total in a 150–147 loss to Utah on November 16.
Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 36 points and Trae Young had a season-high 35. The Hawks have lost three straight and seven of nine to return to .500 at 15-15.
Johnson's 3-pointer with five seconds left gave the Bulls a 151–150 lead. Bouzelis made one of two free throws with 4.2 seconds left before Young missed a last-second shot.
Bouzelis made a career-high seven 3-pointers in eight attempts for the Bulls. They won three games in a row to improve to 13-15.
Onyeka Okongwu you will have 23 points and 20 points.
Young started for the second time in three games after missing 21 games with a sprained right MCL. Coach Quin Snyder said Young will need a lengthy “acclimation process” to be ready to play back-to-back games.
Bulls guard Coby White scored 21 points after being listed as questionable with left ankle soreness. Josh Giddy had 19 points and 12 assists.
Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis (illness) missed his sixth straight game. The Hawks announced that two-way forward Elie Ndiaye will undergo season-ending surgery for a torn labrum suffered in a G League game at College Park on Dec. 9.
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