Josh Giddey’s remarkable halfcourt shot to defeat the Lakers stands out as one of the most thrilling buzzer-beaters of the NBA season.
The Chicago Bulls are emerging as one of the most formidable teams in the Eastern Conference. Entering Thursday night’s clash with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Bulls boasted an impressive 8-2 record over their last 10 games, fueled by strong performances from Coby White and Josh Giddey. Just last weekend, the Bulls scored a staggering 146 points in a victory against the Lakers, setting the stage for an even more unforgettable rematch.
Chicago led for much of the first half, but the Lakers surged ahead in the third quarter, establishing a 16-point lead heading into the final period. It appeared that Los Angeles would secure an easy victory as they maintained their lead throughout the fourth quarter, but the Bulls rallied to snatch a dramatic win.
With 12 seconds remaining, the Lakers were ahead by five points after Austin Reaves made two free throws. The Bulls quickly inbounded the ball from half court, passing to the corner where Patrick Williams hit a crucial three-pointer. Giddey then intercepted the inbounds pass, feeding Coby White, who also sank a three-pointer to put the Bulls briefly in the lead. The Lakers called a timeout, responding with a bucket from Reaves who scored the go-ahead shot with approximately three seconds left. Without any timeouts remaining, the Bulls had to sprint the length of the court for one final attempt to win the game.
Giddey confidently pulled up from half court and made the shot, clinching a 119-117 victory for the Bulls. Catch Giddey’s stunning halfcourt buzzer-beater here:
JOSH GIDDEY FOR THE WIN FROM HALF.@CHSN__ | @joshgiddey pic.twitter.com/p4UQyORSSt
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 28, 2025
Giddey concluded the game with impressive stats: 25 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals. He remarked after the game that this was the first buzzer-beater he had ever made. What an unforgettable moment!
The fact that the Bulls had a chance to win at the buzzer seemed highly unlikely just moments before. Chicago required several fortunate events to set up Giddey’s long-range heave, including Williams’ corner three, Giddey’s critical steal, and White’s three-pointer that temporarily put the Bulls ahead.
The sequence before Giddey’s game-winner was just as bonkers. Down five with 12 seconds left, Bulls get a corner three from Patrick Williams, Giddey steals the inbounds pass and hits Coby for three to put them up one.
— Ricky O’Donnell (@rickyodonn.bsky.social) 2025-03-28T02:47:09.858Z
With this victory, the Bulls improved their record to 33-40. If the season concluded today, they would secure the No. 9 seed in the East, hosting the 9-10 play-in game and needing to defeat the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game to advance to the playoffs.
No team will want to face Chicago right now. The Bulls play at a rapid pace, launch numerous three-pointers, and consistently tire out their opponents in the fourth quarter. While this season has been another mixed bag for the Bulls, the recent cohesion of their young core offers a glimmer of hope for the first time in years.
