Coming off a five-game losing streak — and on back end of a road back-to-back after losing a double overtime heartbreaker in Utah — the Bulls on Monday night pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the NBA season by becoming the first team to beat the 10-2 Denver Nuggets on their home floor in a 130-127 thriller.
As has been the case with the Bulls' success this season, they did it as a team. Here are five standout performances that allowed the Bulls to steal a huge win against Denver:
1. Ayo Dosunmu:
21 points (8-9 FG, 1-2 3PT), 5 assist, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Ayo came off the bench and played a huge role in tonight's win, using his speed to attack the basket — seven of his eight baskets came from the paint, as he stayed aggressive throughout and came up big whenever the Nuggets started making a run. The play of the game may have been his steal and dunk in the closing minutes of the game with the Bulls hanging on to a one point lead. Ayo would close the game with two confident free throws with 11 seconds left to put the Bulls up four.
In a game in which the Bulls bench dominance was the difference, Ayo was the constant factor, ending with a team-high +25 
2. Jalen Smith:
16 points (6-11 FG, 3-6 3PT), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Few matchups are tougher in the NBA than matching up against three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, and Smith was a massive difference maker for the Bulls in this one. The bench unit, led by Smith and Carter, flipped the game on its head in the late first/early second quarter to turn an early deficit into a solid lead, and much of the credit goes to Smith's timely threes and solid defense on Jokić. He scored 13 first-half points and hit three triples to go along with five rebounds and was a big part of the success the team had in the early going.
Even after the Bulls run, the bench unit again went on a 16-6 run early in the third quarter to put the Bulls ahead again, capped by a Jalen Smith acrobatic and-one against Jokić that had the Bulls bench celebrating. He seemed to hurt his arm defending Jokić and left the game for a stretch, but he checked back in later and was a vital part of tonight's win.
3. Jevon Carter:
15 points (5-13 FG, 5-10 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Shooters shoot. Carter stayed ready and was prepared to contribute. With the team on a back-to-back and missing Coby White and Tre Jones, Carter stepped in and was instant offense, playing a huge part in the initial first half run that gave the Bulls the lead. He hit three first-half threes that broke the game open, and came back in for important late-game minutes. Though his shot cooled off later in the game, he was dangerous every minute he was out there, and his gravity made a difference for the Bulls.
4. Josh Giddey:
21 points (8-12 FG), 14 rebounds, 6 assists
Josh was solid as usual for the Bulls, but his true impact on the game won't show up in the box score. Whenever the Nuggets were pressuring the Bulls and making a late run, Giddey was there to stabilize the situation, drawing timely fouls, getting buckets to fall or generally leading the team. He was efficient from the field and got to the stripe eight times, and his work on the boards — particularly picking up 4 offensive rebounds — helped the Bulls stay competitive and pull out a big W.
5. Kevin Huerter:
20 points (7-12 FG, 4-9 3PT), 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Huerter rebounded from a tough night in Utah to pour in 20 big points for the Bulls tonight, hitting four threes with nearly all of them seeming timely. The biggest one came in the final two minutes, when Huerter responded to a big Jokić three with a tough triple of his own to put the Bulls up 121-120 — a lead they would never relinquish. Huerter also stepped up in a high-pressure situation to hit two big free throws with 1.7 seconds left to keep the Bulls up three.