The Chicago Bulls defeated the Dallas Mavericks 115-112 on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the American Airlines Center. Coby White led the Bulls with 24 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists, while Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Bulls improved their record to 39-42 and remained in the hunt for a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.


The Mavericks, on the other hand, dropped to 38-43 and missed a chance to clinch a playoff berth in the Western Conference. Luka Doncic had a subpar game with only 13 points, five rebounds and three assists on 5-of-16 shooting. The Mavericks trailed by as many as 18 points in the third quarter but rallied to take a one-point lead with 2:14 left in the fourth quarter. However, the Bulls responded with a 7-0 run to seal the win.


The loss marked the end of a disappointing season for the Mavericks, who had high expectations after reaching the playoffs in the previous two seasons. The Mavericks faced several challenges throughout the season, such as injuries, COVID-19 protocols, roster changes, and coaching adjustments. The Mavericks also struggled to find a consistent second option behind Doncic, who carried most of the offensive load.


The Mavericks will now have to face some franchise-altering questions in the offseason, such as whether to keep or trade Kristaps Porzingis, who missed most of the season with a knee injury and did not play in the final game. The Mavericks will also have to decide whether to retain Jason Kidd as their head coach, who replaced Rick Carlisle after he resigned in June 2022. The Mavericks will also have to evaluate their roster and make some moves to improve their defense, rebounding, and shooting.


The Bulls, meanwhile, will look to build on their momentum and secure a spot in the play-in tournament. The Bulls have shown some improvement under first-year coach Billy Donovan, who has implemented a more balanced and versatile offense. The Bulls have also benefited from the midseason trade that brought Vucevic from the Orlando Magic, giving them an All-Star caliber big man to pair with Zach LaVine. The Bulls will hope to end their four-year playoff drought and make some noise in the postseason.