Key takeaways: Chicago Bulls finally end a 12-game losing streak vs. Philadelphia 76ers

The Bulls are 18-21 after a 126-112 win over the 76ers on the road.

© Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off a 121-112 victory over the Brooklyn Nets that ended their winning streak at 12, the Chicago Bulls beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-112 to improve to 18-21 on the season. Here are three takeaways from yesterday's game:

Bulls vs. East's best

Contrary to everyone's expectations going into the season, the Bulls have had an up-and-down start to this year's campaign. However, a pattern has developed against Eastern Conference powerhouses that suggests this Chicago team is built for something greater than the mediocrity they've showcased thus far.

With yesterday's win against the Sixers, that pattern continued, as the Bulls now sit 9-2 against the best teams in the East. They are 2-0 against Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and Brooklyn Nets and 2-1 against the Boston Celtics. 

The Bulls tied the season series against the 76ers at one apiece. More importantly, they finally ended a 12-game losing streak against Philadelphia—this was the first time they beat the Sixers since March 6, 2019.

Vucevic capitalizes on Embiid's absence

Joel Embiid missed yesterday's game with a sore left foot, forcing Doc Rivers to roll out the starting five with 6-5 PJ Tucker playing the center. Nikola Vucevic capitalized on that matchup from the get-go and secured his 20th double-double of the season by halftime.

But the Bulls' big man didn't stop there.

Chicago got Vucevic involved early and that opened up the game for others. The Bulls were still looking to play through the 6-10 big man, but after a 9-point first quarter, he served as the team's playmaker for the rest of the game.

As a result, Vucevic racked up his fifth career triple-double—second in Chicago—with 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists on 8-of-14 from the field and 2-of-3 from long range.

Nikola Vucevic messed around... and got a triple-double vs. Philly.

19 pts
18 reb
10 ast

Vote Vooch ➡️ https://t.co/FIqGfhqhk6 pic.twitter.com/ysccKV9RK7

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 7, 2023

LaVine and Williams' third-quarter explosion

The Bulls were up 59-55 at halftime; they closed the second quarter with a 28-11 run that turned a 13-point deficit into a 4-point lead. Chicago then pulled ahead in the third after outscoring the Sixers 40-29.

Zach LaVine put up 19 points over the period on 5-of-6 from long range. The 2x All-Star shot 11-of-13 from three—two shy of his career-high—and finished the game with 41 points.

“Once I got it going, the basket looked like an ocean,” LaVine said.

Patrick Williams, who went scoreless in the first half, scored Chicago's first seven points of the third quarter. The 21-year-old had 16 of his 18 points in the third to help the Bulls secure their 18th win of the season.