The Chicago Bulls gave their fans an early Christmas present on Wednesday night with their fourth consecutive victory. Despite falling behind by 18 points, the

This Chicago Bulls team always was destined to win in spite of its defense, not because of it. But that’s not an excuse — or a fact that should let the Bulls off the hook.

Shortly before the Young and Dosunmu altercation, Hawks forward Jalen Johnson had scored an and-one against Bulls second-year man Matas Buzelis and did a bit of trash talking, which may have sparked what went down between Young and Dosunmu several feet away.

An NBA insider links the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls in a trade involving Kristaps Porzingis, Coby White, and Nikola Vucevic.

Even with 152 points on the board in the NBA’s highest-scoring game of the season, the Chicago Bulls came a single possession away from fumbling the win.

Matas Buzelis scored 28 points to lead nine Chicago players in double figures and the Bulls outlasted the Atlanta Hawks 152-150 on Sunday in the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season

Josh Giddey had 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, Zach Collins added 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench and the Chicago Bulls erased a 13-point second half deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 129-126 and snap a seven-game losing streak.

The teams combined for 43 3-pointers and 51 free throws. Trae Young scored 35, the Bulls had nine players score in double figures.

The Hawks need to look a little more competent on defense tonight if they want to have any chance of winning this rematch.