DENVER (AP) — Suddenly, the Chicago Bulls are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and they kept things rolling late Monday night in Denver.
Coby White scored 37 points to lead the streaking Bulls over the short-handed Nuggets, 129-119, as Chicago extended its winning streak to three games finished its season-long six-game road trip with a 4-2 mark.
After nearly posting a quadruple-double in a win over the Lakers on Saturday night, Josh Giddey had another strong game Monday, totaling 26 points and nine assists for Chicago.
The Bulls have now won eight of their last 10 overall, improving to 32-40 with games left in the regular season. They continue to hold a firm grip on the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference and a spot in the play-in round to advance to the playoffs.
For Denver on Monday, Jamal Murray had 28 points and Peyton Watson scored a career-high 24. The Nuggets played their fifth straight game without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who’s expected to return from his left ankle injury during a five-game homestand.
Denver was also without Aaron Gordon (right calf injury management).
The game was tied entering the fourth quarter, but the Bulls put together a 17-4 run to lead 112-103 midway through the period. The Nuggets closed to within 125-119 and had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but Russell Westbrook missed a 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining.
Takeaways
Bulls: Chicago has now won eight of its last 10 and has a chance to challenge for a home game in the Eastern Conference play-in, with four of its next five games at home.
Nuggets: DeAndre Jordan was out of the rotation for 10 games prior to Sunday and now has started the last two with Jokic sidelined. He had 11 points and 15 rebounds at Houston in a season-high 38 minutes. He had 17 rebounds Monday night
Key moment
Denver opened the fourth quarter with two buckets by Michael Porter Jr., but empty possessions kept the Bulls close. White took advantage with a 3-pointer to spark a 15-3 run that gave Chicago the lead for good.
Key stat
The Nuggets are now 12-3 on the second night of back-to-back games and have lost their last two. All of the losses have come at home.
Up next
The Bulls return home for two games, starting with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. The Nuggets continue their five-game homestand against Milwaukee on Wednesday night.