The 35-Point Comeback
On December 21, 2009, the Sacramento Kings appeared headed for
a lopsided loss against the Chicago Bulls. Chicago dominated the
opening half, leading 38-19 after the first quarter and 67-43
at halftime.
The situation became even worse for Sacramento during the third
quarter. Chicago's advantage eventually reached 35 points, giving
the Bulls what appeared to be an insurmountable lead on their
home floor.
Instead, Sacramento produced one of the greatest rallies in NBA
history. The Kings gradually cut into the deficit during the
second half and completely took over the game in the fourth
quarter.
Sacramento outscored Chicago 33-10 over the final 12 minutes.
The Bulls, who had scored 67 points during the first half,
managed only 31 during the entire second half.
When the comeback was complete, the Kings had turned a
35-point deficit into a 102-98 victory.
Game Information
| Date |
Matchup |
Location |
Final Score |
Largest Chicago Lead |
| December 21, 2009 |
Sacramento Kings at Chicago Bulls |
United Center, Chicago, Illinois |
Sacramento 102, Chicago 98 |
35 points |
Scoring by Quarter
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Sacramento Kings |
19 |
24 |
26 |
33 |
102 |
| Chicago Bulls |
38 |
29 |
21 |
10 |
98 |
Halftime: Chicago 67, Sacramento 43
Second half: Sacramento 59, Chicago 31
Fourth quarter: Sacramento 33, Chicago 10
Largest Chicago lead: 35 points
Largest Sacramento lead: 4 points
Sacramento Kings Box Score
| Player |
MIN |
FG |
3PT |
FT |
ORB |
DRB |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
TO |
PF |
PTS |
| Tyreke Evans |
44:23 |
8-19 |
1-1 |
6-9 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
23 |
| Jason Thompson |
39:37 |
6-13 |
0-1 |
2-2 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
14 |
| Spencer Hawes |
21:49 |
2-6 |
0-1 |
2-2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
| Andres Nocioni |
16:23 |
1-7 |
0-4 |
1-1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| Omri Casspi |
15:22 |
1-4 |
1-1 |
1-2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
| Ime Udoka |
23:19 |
6-9 |
3-5 |
2-2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
| Beno Udrih |
23:07 |
5-11 |
3-4 |
3-3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
| Sergio Rodriguez |
19:36 |
4-6 |
1-1 |
1-2 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
| Jon Brockman |
16:48 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
| Donte Greene |
15:59 |
3-6 |
2-5 |
1-3 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
| Kenny Thomas |
3:37 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Sean May |
DNP |
| Team Totals |
240 |
36-82 |
11-23 |
19-26 |
12 |
29 |
41 |
19 |
8 |
5 |
16 |
22 |
102 |
Sacramento shooting: 43.9% FG, 47.8% 3PT,
73.1% FT.
Bench points: 52
Points in the paint: 34
Fast-break points: 17
Points off turnovers: 23
Chicago Bulls Box Score
| Player |
MIN |
FG |
3PT |
FT |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
TO |
PF |
PTS |
| Luol Deng |
40:22 |
11-19 |
0-1 |
4-4 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
26 |
| Joakim Noah |
36:13 |
4-6 |
0-0 |
3-4 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
11 |
| Brad Miller |
25:48 |
4-9 |
0-0 |
3-4 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
11 |
| John Salmons |
37:32 |
6-14 |
1-5 |
0-0 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
13 |
| Derrick Rose |
39:47 |
8-19 |
0-0 |
3-4 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
19 |
| Kirk Hinrich |
32:11 |
6-12 |
2-4 |
0-0 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
14 |
| Taj Gibson |
21:52 |
4-9 |
0-0 |
1-3 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
| Jannero Pargo |
0:06 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Aaron Gray |
DNP |
| Lindsey Hunter |
DNP |
| James Johnson |
DNP |
| Tyrus Thomas |
Did Not Dress |
Chicago bench points: 24
Points in the paint: 42
Fast-break points: 17
Largest lead: 35
How the Comeback Happened
Chicago could hardly have started the game better. The Bulls
scored 38 points in the opening quarter while holding Sacramento
to 19, immediately creating a 19-point advantage.
The Bulls continued to control the game in the second quarter.
They added another 29 points and went to halftime leading
67-43. At that stage, Sacramento had been outscored by
24 points and appeared to have little chance of recovering.
Chicago's lead eventually grew to 35 points during the third
quarter. But rather than allowing the game to turn into a
complete rout, Sacramento's reserves helped change the pace.
The Kings began forcing turnovers, making three-pointers and
cutting into the deficit.
By the end of the third quarter, Sacramento had reduced the
margin to 88-69. The Kings were still down 19, but the momentum
of the game had completely changed.
A 33-10 Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter completed the transformation. Sacramento
scored 33 points while Chicago managed only 10.
Tyreke Evans became the central figure late in the comeback.
The rookie guard finished the game with 23 points, 8 rebounds,
3 assists and 2 steals while playing more than 44 minutes.
Eighteen of his 23 points came after halftime.
The Kings also received enormous production from their bench.
Ime Udoka scored 17 points, Beno Udrih added 16, Sergio
Rodriguez had 10 points and 7 assists, and Donte Greene scored
9 while blocking 2 shots.
Sacramento's bench finished with 52 points compared with only
24 for Chicago. Udoka, Udrih, Rodriguez, Brockman and Greene
all finished with positive plus-minus figures as the Kings'
second unit helped erase the enormous deficit.
The Final Minutes
What had looked impossible for most of the night became a
one-possession game late in the fourth quarter. Sacramento
eventually caught Chicago and moved in front during the closing
minutes.
With Sacramento leading 100-98 in the final seconds, Derrick
Rose drove to the basket with an opportunity to tie the game.
His layup missed with 7.9 seconds remaining and Beno Udrih
secured the rebound.
Chicago fouled Udrih, who made both free throws with
5.5 seconds remaining to extend Sacramento's advantage to
102-98. John Salmons then missed a final three-point attempt,
completing the comeback.
Why This Game Is Historic
Coming back from 35 points down is extraordinary because it
requires both a prolonged scoring surge and an almost complete
collapse by the leading team. Sacramento accomplished both
during the second half.
After Chicago scored 67 points in the first half, the Bulls
managed only 31 after halftime. Sacramento went in the opposite
direction, improving from 43 first-half points to 59 in the
second half.
The difference was even more dramatic in the fourth quarter.
Sacramento's 33-10 advantage represented a 23-point swing in
only 12 minutes.
At the time, Sacramento's rally from 35 points down ranked
among the largest deficits overcome to win an NBA game. It
remains one of the most memorable comebacks of the modern era
and one of the signature games of Tyreke Evans' Rookie of the
Year season.
Game Details
Date: December 21, 2009
Final Score: Sacramento Kings 102, Chicago Bulls 98
Arena: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Attendance: 19,631
Time of Game: 2:21
Officials: Derrick Collins, Bill Kennedy and
Leroy Richardson.
Largest Chicago lead: 35 points
Largest Sacramento lead: 4 points
Inactive: Sacramento — Francisco Garcia,
Kevin Martin; Chicago — Jerome James.
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