Dosunmu, Young, and a Comeback in Atlanta
Atlanta, Dec 25, 2025 – Sometimes, a box score lies. It will tell you that Trae Young finished with a dazzling double-double and that Ayo Dosunmu had a quiet night offensively. But anyone watching the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena knows that the game—and perhaps the Bulls’ road mentality—shifted on a single, heated exchange near the sideline. In a game that was teetering on the edge of a blowout, a moment of disrespect ignited a fire that the Atlanta Hawks couldn’t extinguish.
The Hawks were cruising, holding a lead that had swelled to as many as 18 points. Jalen Johnson had just sliced through the lane for a layup, pushing the advantage back to seven and drawing a whistle. It felt like another night where Atlanta would keep the Bulls at arm’s length.
During the stoppage, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan signaled for Dosunmu to sub out. As the Chicago native jogged toward the bench, Trae Young couldn’t resist a parting shot—sharing a few words and delivering a slap to Dosunmu’s backside. It was a gesture that dissolved Dosunmu’s usually stoic demeanor in an instant.
Dosunmu whipped around, getting squarely in the All-Star’s face. Young responded with a shove; Dosunmu grabbed him by the shoulder. By the time teammates rushed in to separate the tangled guards, the energy in the arena had shifted from celebration to hostility. The officials reviewed the skirmish, opting for double technicals rather than ejections, but the damage to Atlanta’s psyche was already done.
This wasn’t just a random flare-up; it was the boiling point of a quiet but intense individual rivalry. Dosunmu has quietly become Young’s kryptonite, entering the night with an 11-2 career record against the Hawks’ star and a history of suffocating defense.
Dosunmu is rarely the aggressor in these situations. Known as a peacemaker and a steady hand for Chicago, his reaction suggested that Young’s taunt cut deep. But rather than losing composure, the Bulls used their guard’s anger as fuel.
Following the altercation, the game flipped. The Hawks, who had been fluid and dangerous all night, suddenly hit a wall. Fueled by the scuffle, the Bulls’ defense clamped down, holding Atlanta to a dismal 18 points in the final frame on just 30.4 percent shooting.
While Young finished with 22 points and 15 assists, his impact waned when it mattered most. The Bulls, rallying behind the emotion of the moment, erased the deficit and walked off the floor with a 126-123 victory.
The victory marks a significant resurgence for Chicago, extending their winning streak to four games—their best run since a blistering 5-0 start to the season. More importantly, it proved that this team has a pulse when backed into a corner. What started as a taunt from Trae Young ended as a rallying cry for a Bulls team that is finally learning how to win the ugly ones on the road.
