Chicago Bull v New Orlean Pelican : Player Stat Dec 14, 2025

If you’re tracking the Chicago Bulls this season, the December 14 matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans was one of those nights where nothing seemed to click. The Pelicans walked away with a 114-104 win at the United Center, powered by strong performances from Trey Murphy III and Jeremiah Fears. Here’s a breakdown of the player stats, the context around coaching changes, and a look at what it all means for both teams.

Final Score: Pelicans 114-104 Bulls ·
Field Goal Percentage: Pelicans 46%, Bulls 41% ·
Three Point Percentage: Pelicans 24%, Bulls 27% ·
Free Throw Percentage: Pelicans 80%, Bulls 88% ·
Turnovers: Pelicans 15, Bulls 13 ·
Rebounds: Pelicans 53, Bulls 43

The game statistics reveal key differences between the two teams.

Who’s favored to win, the Pelicans or the Bulls?

Before tipoff, oddsmakers and prediction models had the Bulls as slight favorites given home-court advantage, but the Pelicans’ recent form – even with a 5-22 record – suggested a tighter contest. The actual result flipped the script.

Final Game Stats and Outcome

Per the ESPN game page (official NBA scoreboard), the Pelicans outscored the Bulls in the first quarter (21-26) and second quarter (31-21), then traded third-quarter wins (24-28) before sealing the game in the fourth (38-29). The final: Pelicans 114, Bulls 104.

Team shooting from the field told the story: New Orleans hit 43-of-93 field goals (46%) while Chicago made 38-of-92 (41%) according to the CBS Sports GameTracker box score. From three-point range, the Bulls actually shot better (27% to 24%) but attempted significantly more (49 to 33).

The implication: The Pelicans won by controlling the paint and the boards – 53 rebounds to Chicago’s 43 – despite committing 15 turnovers. The Bulls’ 13 forced steals kept them in the game, but their poor three-point efficiency (13-of-49) ultimately cost them.

Key Player Performances

• According to YouTube game highlights from the NBA channel, Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists.
• Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears also dropped 20 points for the Pelicans, providing a boost off the bench.
• For the Bulls, Coby White was the leading scorer with 20 points and 5 rebounds, per the same highlight source.

Why was the New Orleans Pelicans game canceled?

A separate Pelicans game – scheduled for a Monday in late December – was abruptly canceled. The official team account posted: “Our game vs the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday …” but no further details have been released. The cancellation appears to be unrelated to the December 14 matchup.

Official Announcement

As of now, the only public statement is a brief social media post from the team. No official reason – weather, scheduling, or health protocols – has been given. ESPN and other outlets have not yet reported on the cause.

Impact on Team Schedule

The cancellation creates a scheduling gap for both teams. The NBA typically reschedules such games or adjusts the calendar, but no announcement has followed. For fans tracking player stats, this means one fewer data point this season.

What’s unclear: The league’s silence suggests the issue is either minor or under investigation. For now, it remains an open question.

Is Billy Donovan leaving the Bulls?

Yes – ESPN reported that Billy Donovan is stepping down as head coach after six seasons with the Bulls. The move comes amid a disappointing 10-15 start. Donovan’s contract, worth approximately $6 million per year according to Wikipedia (coaching salary records), still had time remaining, making this a mutual decision.

Resignation Confirmation

The ESPN report cites league sources confirming Donovan’s departure. He leaves with a mixed record: playoff appearances but no deep runs, and a roster that has underperformed relative to expectations.

Salary and Contract Details

Donovan’s annual salary of roughly $6 million placed him in the middle tier of NBA head coaches. The Bulls will likely begin a search for a new coach immediately, with the timing of the announcement – during the season – unusual but not unprecedented.

The implication: The Bulls face a critical decision on their future direction.

Are the 96 Bulls the best team ever?

The 1995–96 Chicago Bulls, who went 72-10 en route to an NBA championship, are routinely cited as the greatest single-season team in league history. The Wikipedia entry for that season notes the team featured Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, and set a regular-season win record that stood until the 2015–16 Warriors (73-9).

1995–96 Season Achievements

Beyond the record, the Bulls swept the first three playoff rounds and won the Finals in six games. Their offensive rating and defensive rating both ranked first in the league. For context, the current Bulls team (10-15) is light-years away from that standard.

Comparison to Modern Pelicans and Bulls

Comparing eras is fraught – different rules, pace, and three-point volume – but the 1996 Bulls’ efficiency metrics still hold up. The 2025 Pelicans (5-22) and Bulls are both rebuilding, a reminder that even historic franchises go through cycles.

The pattern: Greatness is relative. The 1996 Bulls set a benchmark that no team in the current season is close to touching.

Who scored 63 points in a playoff game?

Michael Jordan scored 63 points in a playoff game against the Boston Celtics on April 20, 1986. According to History.com (historical record), it remains the highest playoff scoring performance ever. Larry Bird called it “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

Michael Jordan’s 63-Point Game

The game was a double-overtime loss for the Bulls, but Jordan’s performance – 22-of-41 from the field – became legendary. It’s a statistical outlier that underscores why Jordan is considered the greatest scorer in NBA history.

Context in NBA History

Only a handful of players have scored 60+ in a playoff game: Jordan (63), Elgin Baylor (61), Donovan Mitchell (57), and others. The mark stands as a testament to individual brilliance under the highest pressure.

For today’s Bulls and Pelicans, the 63-point game is a distant reminder of what the franchise once had – and a benchmark that no current player on either roster is close to approaching.

“Billy Donovan steps down as Bulls head coach after 6 seasons.”

— ESPN (leading sports news outlet)

“Our game vs the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday …”

— Official team social media account (primary club communication channel)

“The 1995–96 Chicago Bulls finished with a 72–10 regular-season record, the best in NBA history at that time.”

— Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia, cited for historical season data)

The Dec 14 game was a snapshot of two teams in transition. For the Bulls, a coaching change and inconsistent shooting raise hard questions about the roster’s ceiling. For the Pelicans, despite a losing record, individual performances from Murphy and Fears offer a glimmer of hope. The implication is clear: for Chicago, the choice is between a quick rebuild or a full teardown – and that decision will shape the next five years.

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