Josh Giddey's 'huge leap' towards breaking one of NBA legend Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls records

Josh Giddey is making the most of his second season in the Chicago Bulls colours as he draws closer to surpassing two legends of the game in the history books.

Jalen Brunson scored 31 points as the New York Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak and handed the Bulls their first loss of the season, 128-116 on Monday AEDT.

But it was the Australian guard that stole the shows for the Bulls as he recorded his eighth triple-double and fifth double-double in the team's colours.

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It was the 19th time Giddey had ever made a triple-double in his career and the fourth time he had done so at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Only Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen have ever recorded more triple doubles for Chicago, with 28 and 15 respectively.

Along with the triple-double, Giddey finished with 23 points, 12 assists, two steals and 12 rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic had 17 points and 14 rebounds.

But Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points and 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, while Josh Hart had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who scored the most points they've had in a game this season and avoided their first four-game losing streak since February 8-14, 2024.

The Bulls (5-1) were the last Eastern Conference team to fall from the unbeaten ranks and were denied their first 6-0 start since 1996-97 during the Jordan era.

The Bulls entered the game leading the NBA in defensive 3-point percentage (30.1 per cent), with Giddey coming off the back of scoring a career high 32 points two days ago.

Still, Chicago had no answer for the Knicks’ hot long-range shooting.

New York knocked down 20 of 42 from 3-point range (47.6 per cent) — including 13 for 21 (61.9 per cent) in the first half. Seven Knicks made at least two 3-pointers, led by Brunson, who was 4 for 11.

New York’s reserves also chipped in 46 points after averaging 18 bench points per game over the losing streak.

After leading by eight at half time, New York scored 37 third quarter points, while knocking down 5-of-10 3-point attempts in the period, and led 105-89 through three.

Up next

Chicago: Hosts Philadelphia at 11am on Wednesday AEDT.

New York: Hosts Washington at 10.30am on Tuesday AEDT.

- Additional reporting by Alyssa Bone