Josh Giddey scores career-high 32 points, Bulls beat Knicks 135-125

By Canadian Press on October 31, 2025.

CHICAGO (AP) — Josh Giddey scored a career-high 32 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists, Nikola Vucevic added 26 points, and the Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks 135-125 on Friday night to stay undefeated and get out to their best start in nearly three decades.

Ayo Dosunmu came of the bench to score 22 points with nine assists for the Bulls, who improved to 5-0 and are off to their best start since the 1996-97 season when they opened 12-0 and went on to win the NBA Championship.

Billy Donovan earned his 200th coaching win with Chicago.

Jalen Brunson scored 29 points and OG Anunoby had 26 to help power New York’s second-half comeback attempt. The Knicks cut Chicago’s lead to two points midway through the fourth quarter after trailing by 22 late in the second quarter.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 10 rebounds despite playing with a right quad strain and landing hard on his hip in the third quarter. Mikal Bridges scored 23 points in the NBA Cup group play opener for both teams.

Both teams relied heavily on 3-pointers, with Chicago hitting 17 of 37 and New York converting 18 of 45. The Bulls outshot the Knicks overall from the floor, 53.6% to 49.5% .

The Bulls opened a 72-53 lead at the half, penetrating with crisp passing plays.

CELTICS 109, 76ERS 108

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 32 points, Anfernee Simons added 19 and Boston never trailed in a win against Philadelphia.

Payton Pritchard and Derrick White had 15 points apiece for the Celtics, who evened their record at .500 by winning their third straight after beginning the season with three consecutive losses. Boston evened a 117-116 season-opening defeat to the 76ers on Oct. 22.

Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points to lead Philadelphia, which entered as one of four unbeaten teams in the league.

The game was the first as part of the NBA Cup for both teams.

Maxey’s drive with 20.8 seconds to play pulled Philadelphia to 109-108. After a Boston turnover on its ensuing possession, Maxey missed on an underhand scoop shot from the lane with 4 seconds left that would have given Philadelphia the lead.

Boston’s Josh Minott then missed both free throws with 3.8 seconds left, but Joel Embiid was long on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

HAWKS 128, PACERS 108

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jalen Johnson scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points, and Atlanta beat Indiana in NBA Cup group play to keep the Pacers winless this season.

Pascal Siakam finished with 18 points and five assists while Jarace Walker added 17 points for the 0-5 Pacers, who are dealing with a rash of injuries.

The team announced Friday that forward Obi Toppin will miss at least three months due to a stress fracture in his right foot that will require surgery. Two-time All-Star Tyrese Halliburton could miss the entire season after tearing his right Achilles tendon in the Game 7 loss to Oklahoma City in last season’s championship series.

The Pacers are also missing starters Bennedict Mathurin (foot) and Andrew Nembhard (left shoulder strain) as well as T.J. McConnell (left hamstring strain).

The Hawks played without four-time All Star Trae Young, who sprained his right knee against the Nets on Wednesday night.

RAPTORS 112, CAVALIERS 101

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jamison Battle scored 20 points, including a pair of 3-pointers that helped Toronto pull away in the final two minutes of a victory over Cleveland in the NBA Cup opener for both teams.

The Cavaliers, who were without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and center Jarrett Allen because of injuries, were within four when Battle made a 3 with 1:07 remaining and hit another half a minute later for a 108-98 lead. Battle made all seven of his shots, six from long range.

RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram also scored 20 points apiece for the Raptors, who stopped a four-game losing streak that followed a season-opening win.

Evan Mobley scored 29 points and D’Andre Hunter added 26 for the Cavaliers. Mitchell didn’t play due to left hamstring tightness, and Allen was out two nights after breaking the ring finger on his left hand in a 125-105 loss to Boston.

The Associated Press