The Bulls cap a 9-2 run and win the game thanks to Josh Giddey’s half-court shot!
A reminder on The Horry Scale: It breaks down a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) in the categories of difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time?), importance (playoff game or garden-variety night in November?) and celebration. Then we give it an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, named for the patron saint of last-second answered prayers.
* * *
A lot can happen in 24 hours. For LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, that amount of time was the difference between the winning and losing ends of buzzer-beating game-winners.
One night after James donned the cape at the horn, he saw an opposing player do the same as Josh Giddey’s heave from halfcourt hit nothing but net as time expired. The Australian guard’s shot capped an incredible rally and wild ending in Chicago, which pocketed the 119-117 victory as part of a late-season resurgence.
GAME SITUATION: Chicago had already pulled off one near-impossible sequence, scoring back-to-back 3-pointers in make-steal-make fashion that would have done Reggie Miller proud. The resulting one-point lead — and the jubiliation in United Center — vanished almost immediately when the Lakers’ Austin Reaves put L.A. back up by one with a layup. The Bulls were left trailing again with 3.3 seconds, 94 feet and no timeouts between them and the final buzzer.
DIFFICULTY: Patrick Williams took the inbounds pass from Giddey… and gave it right back to his point guard, who had a much clearer runway to offer a game-winning prayer.
Even with LeBron James contesting the shot itself, the basketball gods heard.
BULLS WIN ON AN ELECTRIFYING SEQUENCE ⚡️
Patrick Williams triple with 10.3 seconds left.Coby White for the lead with 6.1 seconds left. Austin Reaves takes the lead back with 3.3 to go.
Josh Giddey hits the #TissotBuzzerBeater.
CLUTCH BASKETBALL AT ITS FINEST! pic.twitter.com/fPwP3IiVM1
— NBA (@NBA) March 28, 2025
Giddey’s shot — officially logged as a 46-foot driving, floating 3-pointer — is most often seen attempted by fans harboring hopes of a cash or automobile prize. Giddey won neither, settling instead for the top highlight of his career accomplished against one of the best players of all time.
CELEBRATION: The pop of the net was swallowed by the roar from the home Bulls crowd. Giddey’s teammates ran across the court to carry his running momentum into the corner, to the edge of the stands where all could soak in the thrill and adrenaline of the 0.01% having actually occurred.
Between the shot and celebration, however, Giddey could be seen doing what coaches teach young players around the world — holding his follow-through, emphasizing the success of the shot just taken.
GRADE: Few regular-season, non-conference games merit a near-perfect score. The stakes often weigh it down. The sheer difficulty of the shot itself — never mind the absurd handful of possessions leading up to it — outweighs other factors, here. Also considered is how this incredible ending serves as an exclamation point to the Bulls having won nine of their last 11 games. Giddey represents a long-awaited change of direction for the Bulls. On Thursday, he rewarded that decision in unbelievable fashion. 4 1/2 Horrys.
