Caleb Wilson scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in his United Center debut on Saturday night, his first career double-double, and he did it in 38 minutes with zero turnovers and a plus-14 on a night the Chicago Bulls lost to the Washington Wizards 124-120.

The second quarter is the one Chicago will keep. Wilson's fast-break dunk with 2:02 left in the half capped a 10-0 run and pushed the lead to 60-50. Less than a minute later he grabbed a rebound and scored on a reverse jam. The Bulls went to the break up 62-57, and the No. 4 pick owned the building.

Washington owned the third quarter instead. The Wizards won it 40-20 behind Trae Young, who finished with 25 points and nine assists, and their lead peaked at 21 points early in the fourth. Chicago rallied behind Wilson and Matas Buzelis, who had 21 points, but the comeback stopped at four.

Three games into his career, Wilson has 67 points. That is the second-most by any Bulls player through his first three games, behind only Michael Jordan and his 74, per NBA on ESPN. He went 1 for 9 from three and still got his 30 on 10 of 24 shooting and 9 of 11 at the line, with three assists, two steals and a block.

Context matters too. Chicago played its second game in two nights after a 132-125 win in Milwaukee on Friday, and Washington played without AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick, who is day to day with a sprained left ankle. The Bulls get no time to sulk: they are at Boston on Monday night. The schedule is hard. The rookie looks ready for it anyway.

Key Facts

  • Caleb Wilson: 30 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, zero turnovers in 38 minutes; his first career double-double
  • History: 67 points through three career games, second-most by a Bull behind Michael Jordan (74), per NBA on ESPN
  • Game: Washington Wizards 124, Chicago Bulls 120 at the United Center; the Wizards won the third quarter 40-20
  • Washington: Trae Young 25 points and 9 assists, Kyshawn George 22 points, Anthony Davis 19 points
  • Next: The Bulls are at the Boston Celtics on Monday night

More NBA News