Bulls Coach Tiago Splitter: 'We Got Better Tonight' in Loss to Knicks

Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson speaks to the media following his team's 133-127 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. (Gavin Dorsey/Roundtable Sports)

The Bulls don't count moral victories, but head coach Tiago Splitter recognizes that his young team is improving.

Going against the defending champion New York Knicks on Wednesday night, Chicago played its best game yet this season. Although the Bulls lost, 133-127, Splitter's group had its most assists, fewest turnovers and best shooting percentage in the first five games. The team played collectively, rather than as a group of individuals, and it nearly resulted in the upset. However, the Bulls were outscored in the fourth quarter, 43-31.

"We were focused for a longer period of time throughout the game, which is good, but the game still has 48 minutes," Splitter said. "That last quarter tonight wasn't good enough. Of course, they have great players... That's why they won the championship. But I think we competed for the most part. We got better tonight."

After shooting a league-worst 23.8% on three-pointers through the first four games, the Bulls connected on 18 of their 42 shot attempts (42.9%) from beyond the arc. Norman Powell made four triples, while Matas Buzelis and No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson — who both struggled with accuracy to start the year — each made an efficient three shots from deep.

Buzelis, 22, and Wilson, 20, are Chicago's two highest draft picks over the past three years. Both are close in size and play similar roles, but haven't quite found a fit alongside each other. Wednesday's game was a strong outing for the young duo, who combined for 37 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks.

"I think they play better together," Splitter said. "And also, when they were not together, they were aggressive, trying to make plays, take care of the ball. We still got too many turnovers there sometimes, gotta be smarter in some situations. But again, I can go to sleep if we fight like this and compete every night."

Midway through the second quarter, Wilson blocked Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson at the rim, then took the ball the other way in transition. From just inside the three-point line, the rookie forward lobbed a pass to Buzelis, who threw down the alley-oop jam. It was the first such connection between the two players this season.

Buzelis and Wilson are widely expected to be the future of Chicago Bulls basketball. Although both can be prone to mistakes this early in their careers, the excitement they can generate was on display on Wednesday night.

"Matas is my guy, off the court and on the court," Wilson said. "I love playing with him. He had a great game tonight, and I'm excited to see him keep flourishing and getting better every night. I want to connect on a bunch more lobs both ways. I just feel like it's a step in the right direction. I know Coach said there's no moral victories, but I feel like we're definitely heading the right way."

The Bulls are in the midst of a brutal early-season stretch of the schedule, in which they play 10 consecutive games against teams that made the playoffs last season. Games against the Celtics and the Knicks put Chicago 20% of the way through the gauntlet, which provides learning experiences for the Bulls' young roster.

Chicago will head to Boston again on Friday for a rematch against the Celtics, then will continue the road trip against the Philadelphia 76ers before playing the Knicks again. The 10-game stretch also includes matchups with the San Antonio Spurs, the Atlanta Hawks, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Cleveland Cavaliers.