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Buzelis scores 21 points, Huerter adds 20 as Bulls beat Magic 121-114 for 2nd straight win

Buzelis scores 21 points, Huerter adds 20 as Bulls beat Magic 121-114 for 2nd straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, right, gestures after making a 3-point basket over Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

CHICAGO (AP) — Matas Buzelis scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, Kevin Huerter added 20 points, and the Chicago Bulls rallied to beat the Orlando Magic 121-114 on Friday night for their second straight win.

Buzelis hit a pair of free throws with 22.8 seconds left to make 119-114, then pulled in his ninth rebound to send in Isaac Okoro for a game-sealing dunk with 4 seconds remaining. Buzelis also finished with a season-high seven assists.

Nikola Vucevic added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Ayo Dosumnu had 17 points as Chicago outscored Orlando 30-19 in the fourth quarter to climb back to .500. (17-17).

Paolo Banchero scored 31 points and Anthony Black added 18 for the Magic in a game with 19 lead changes.

Jalen Suggs had 11 points for Orlando in his second game back after missing seven with a hip injury, but left this one after landing hard and straining his right knee late in the third quarter. Desmond Bane added 14 and Wendell Carter Jr. had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Six Chicago players reached double figures as the Bulls played a second game without its top two scorers in Josh Giddey and Coby White, who were injured in a loss to Minnesota on Monday night.

The Magic have been without leading scorer Franz Wagner (22.7 point per game) since he suffered a high ankle sprain on Dec. 7.

Orlando led 95-91 heading into the fourth quarter, but Bulls took a 105-102 lead on Buzelis’ 3-pointer 4:44 into the quarter.

The Bulls pulled into 59-all tie at halftime on Huerter’s cutting layup after falling behind by 10 early and trailing by as much as 13 in the first quarter after the Magic went on a 14-0 run.

Banchero hit his first four shots and five of six to score 11 of his 13 first-half points in just over the opening 7:16.

Up next

Magic: Host Indiana on Sunday

Bulls: Host Charlotte on Saturday.

___

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/nba

Buzelis scores 21 points, Huerter adds 20 as Bulls beat Magic 121-114 for 2nd straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, right, shoots a 3-point basket over Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Buzelis scores 21 points, Huerter adds 20 as Bulls beat Magic 121-114 for 2nd straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, defends Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Buzelis scores 21 points, Huerter adds 20 as Bulls beat Magic 121-114 for 2nd straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, left, shoots over Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Buzelis scores 21 points, Huerter adds 20 as Bulls beat Magic 121-114 for 2nd straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago Bulls forward Julian Phillips (15) dunks the ball over Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

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Matt Carlson

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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