Coast-to-Coast: Nikola Vucevic game-winner saves Bulls; Raptors rise to second in East

Chicago left it late as Nikola Vucevic drained a dramatic, buzzer-beating game-winner, while the Toronto Raptors quietly climbed to second place in the East, and the OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets continued to pace the West. 

VUCEVIC CALLS GAME; RAPTORS RISE TO EAST NO. 2 

• Chicago Bulls (8-6) def. Portland Trail Blazers (8-6), 122-121: Nikola Vucevic drilled the game-winning three as time expired, lifting the Bulls to a dramatic victory over the Trail Blazers. 

Trailing by two in the closing seconds, Coby White drove and dished out to Vucevic, who calmly drained a deep triple from the right wing to snatch the win in a thrilling fashion. 

• Toronto Raptors (10-5) def. Philadelphia 76ers (8-6), 121-112: Don’t look now, but the surging Raptors have climbed to second place in the East after spoiling Fil-Am Jared McCain’s Sixers season debut. 

Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett scored 22 points apiece, powering Toronto to its best start since opening 11-4 in the 2019-20 season.

• OKC Thunder (15-1) def. Sacramento Kings (3-12), 113-99: Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fired 33 points as the league-best Thunder rolled past the Kings to maintain their dominance one month into the season. 

[ALSO READ: SGA, Thunder extend franchise-best start to 15-1 after overwhelming Kings]

• Denver Nuggets (11-3) def. New Orleans Pelicans (2-13), 125-118: Nikola Jokic delivered a routine 28-point, 12-assist, 11-rebound triple-double—his league-leading ninth of the season—to power the Nuggets past the Pelicans in a bounce-back win.  

• Houston Rockets (10-3) def. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-6), 114-104: Alperen Sengun went to work against the Cavaliers, posting 28 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists to propel the Rockets to a fifth straight win. 

With that impressive statline, the Turkish big man became the first player in franchise history to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in three-straight games. 

[ALSO READ: In-form Rockets fend off Donovan Mitchell, late Cavaliers rally for fifth straight win]

• New York Knicks (9-5) def. Dallas Mavericks (4-12), 113-111: Jalen Brunson returned from a two-game absence to pour in 28 points, helping the Knicks edge a Cooper Flagg-less Mavericks squad in a nail-biting affair.

Despite missing 16 free throws, New York held on for its first road victory of the season.

• Miami Heat (9-6) def. Golden State Warriors (9-8), 110-96: Norman Powell caught fire late, scoring 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Heat put away the undermanned Warriors. 

Bam Adebayo returned from a six-game absence due to a toe injury and added 20 points.

• Indiana Pacers (2-13) def. Charlotte Hornets (4-11), 127-118: Bennedict Mathurin collected a strong double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Pacers finally snapped an eight-game losing skid after toppling the Hornets. 

• Minnesota Timberwolves (10-5) def. Washington Wizards (1-13), 120-109: Julius Randle logged 32 points in 33 minutes as the Timberwolves sent the Wizards reeling to a 12th straight loss.  

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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.

Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.