The San Antonio Spurs went to Chicago ranked as the NBA's top defensive team, but the Bulls beat them at their own game.
Led by a stingy defence that held the Spurs to just 16 points in the fourth quarter, the Bulls ended San Antonio's five-game winning streak with a 92-89 win in their first game back from a four-game road trip.
"To hold that team to 16 fourth-quarter points was a great effort," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said.
"They're obviously a great team with great firepower. They are also one of the great defensive teams in the league. It was one of those nights where everyone who stepped on the floor contributed in a big way."
Centre Pau Gasol notched his seventh double-double (18 points and 13 rebounds) to lead five Chicago players in double-figures scoring, but it was the Bulls' stingy defence that ultimately won the game.
Gasol blocked a layup attempt by forward LaMarcus Aldridge with 1:06 left and the game tied 89-89, and then split two free throws at the other end of the floor with 51.2 seconds left to put Chicago ahead for good.
Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard missed a three-pointer with four seconds left and guard Tony Parker's last-gasp three-point attempt from the corner was partially blocked by Bulls guard Derrick Rose to end the game.
"I was anticipating Manu [Ginobili] or Kawhi to make a play and take the shot," Gasol said.
"Kawhi is their go-to guy pretty much, and Jimmy [Butler] did an incredible job contesting the shot. And then they got the corner shot, which was very well contested and we got a piece of it and won the game."
The Spurs (14-4) lost for just the second time in 11 games, while the Bulls (10-5) rebounded from a 104-92 road loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Butler had 14 points, Rose and forward Tony Snell each added 11, reserve guard Doug McDermott had 12 points, and centre Joakim Noah had eight points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Leonard led all scorers with 25 points and Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs. Parker finished with 13 points and forward Tim Duncan had six points and 12 rebounds.
Dubs stay perfect
Golden State extended their NBA record start to 19-0 with a narrow win over the Utah Jazz, but that inevitable first defeat of the season may come sooner rather than later as they negotiate a tough road stretch and injuries start to bite.
Playing without forward Harrison Barnes, who will miss at least three games with a sprained left ankle, the Warriors needed a late surge to get past the Jazz 106-103 in Salt Lake City, the opener of a seven-game trip away from Oracle Arena.
The Warriors keenly felt the absence of Barnes, who was averaging 13.4 points per game, and after trailing late into the final quarter needed the heroics of Stephen Curry to stay perfect.
Warriors forward Draymond Green said the defending champions had to be at their best at all times as the opposition were going all out to topple them.
"When we show up [to other arenas] if we don't bring our 'A game' each and every night we can be beaten," he said.
"Because everyone else is bringing their 'A game.'"
Steering clear of major injuries helped Golden State to the title last season in their 67-win campaign, but already this year they are without head coach Steve Kerr (back surgery) and will now miss Barnes for at least a short stretch.
OKC go down to Hawks
Jeff Teague scored 25 points, six of them during a 10-2 fourth-quarter run, to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 106-100.
Teague was 10 for 17 from the field, including the go-ahead layup with 1:08 remaining. He added five assists as Atlanta ended Oklahoma City's four-game winning streak.
Kiwi Steven Adams had a quiet night, grabbing two rebounds, but failed to score, missing his only field goal attempt and his two free-throws.
