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Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks recap: final score and what we learned (Week of Nov 5–11, 2026)

NBA Audit · Week of Nov 5–11, 2026 · Game recap

The New York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls 135-105, a 30-point result that settled the preview's central question before anyone had to squint at it. Could a team that scores paper over a team that defends poorly? Not here. For the Bulls, this is another data point in a bad stretch. For the Knicks, it's the kind of night that makes a so-so offense look like a real one.

The result

Start with the shooting, because it tells most of the story. New York hit 44 of 87 from the field, 51 percent, and 17 of 40 from three, 43 percent. Chicago took more shots, 96 to 87, but made 37 of them for 39 percent, and went 10 of 44 from deep, 23 percent. That's a lot of volume for very little return.

The glass was just as lopsided. The Knicks finished with 57 rebounds to Chicago's 34, including 40 on the defensive end against the Bulls' 19. Chicago's 15 offensive rebounds were close to New York's 17, but when you miss that many shots, second chances can't carry you very far.

The free-throw line leaned New York's way too. The Knicks made 30 of 37, while the Bulls made 21 of 28. Assists were nearly even, 27 to 25, and steals were close at 7 to 6. The fouls were close as well, 21 for New York and 23 for Chicago. So the gap came from shot-making and rebounding, not from some wild difference in how the game was played.

How our preview held up

We picked the Knicks, and that was correct. The reasoning held up too. The preview argued that Chicago's scoring rate, 116.5 points per game, wouldn't be enough against a team that was steadier at the other end. The Bulls finished with 105, short of their own average, while New York's 135 landed far above the 106.3 it had been scoring.

We also flagged New York's offense against Chicago's defense, which allowed 123 per game, as the matchup where the Knicks could look better than their season numbers. That one hit, and then some.

Where we undersold it was the scale. The preview treated this as a Knicks edge, not a rout, and talked about Chicago staying in it for stretches because it can score. The box score gives no sign of that. We also leaned on the Knicks' defense without anticipating how completely the Bulls' shooting would fall apart, especially from three.

What it means

For Chicago, the preview described a team searching for answers, with a recent record of 1-6. A 30-point loss in which the shots didn't fall and the glass wasn't contested doesn't make that search any easier. The Bulls have the scoring pedigree to look dangerous on paper, but this was the opposite of dangerous.

For New York, the takeaway is more encouraging than conclusive. The preview had the Knicks at 3-4 and worried about easy production. A night like this suggests the offense can find it when the opponent gives it room. Whether that's a turning point or a feast against a porous defense is the question the next few games will answer. Either way, the Knicks got the result and the performance our preview was looking for.

Read our pre-game preview: Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks prediction and preview: team news, form and key matchups (Nov 4)

Final score

Team stats

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is sports analytics commentary—not gambling advice, not investment advice, and not a prediction of guaranteed outcomes. We do not promote sportsbooks or wagering. Always verify statistics against official league sources.

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Data attribution: Stats for informational analysis only. Verify figures against official league sources.