Patrick Williams found his footing Saturday, helping the Chicago Bulls overcome an off night from Matas Buzelis for a 110-98 win over the Orlando Magic.

Jalen Smith added 16 points for the Bulls, one of their four players off the bench in double figures. Ayo Dosunmu and Nikola Vucevic each finished with 15 points.

The Bulls consistently pushed pace in transition and found open creases in the halfcourt. And the Magic didn't have an answer. Their poor shooting and frustration offensively may have bled into their defense, but the Bulls ultimately played with more energy and ferocity to outpace their East foe.

Defensively, the Bulls hold a slight edge, allowing 111.0 points per game with a defensive rating of 105.3, compared to Orlando's 116.0 points allowed and 107.3 rating. A significant mismatch lies in transition play and ball security.

Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Orlando was lifeless from distance when it shot 12.5% (3 of 24) from beyond the arc and couldn’t keep up with Chicago, who exited with a 110-98 victory in its back pocket behind Josh Giddey’s 21 points.

The Orlando Magic are seeing their first-round pick get his first action in the NBA. With 4:22 left in the third quarter, Magic rookie point guard Jase Richards

Why the Orlando Magic are ruling out Jalen Suggs against the Chicago Bulls due to left knee injury management.

How to watch the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Chicago Bulls, as well as tip-off time and team news.

Orlando and Chicago will square off in a matchup of Eastern Conference foes. The teams meet Saturday for the first time this season.