Zach Collins believes the Chicago Bulls are "crashing the glass" after extending their winning streak in the NBA to five games after their victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Jalen Smith sparked a game-ending run with a thunderous dunk on Joel Embiid to help the Bulls to a 109-102 triumph and move them up to ninth in the Eastern Conference. 

Chicago were led by Collins and Tre Jones, who both had team-high totals of 15 points, while Coby White chipped in with 13 to help the Bulls improve to 15-15 this season. 

Their current five-game stretch is their best since going 5-0 at the start of the 2025-26 campaign, when they enjoyed their best start to an NBA season since 1996-97. 

However, they subsequently struggled, enduring a seven-game losing streak from November to December, the longest for the team since 2020. 

And with games against the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans closing out the calendar year, Collins is aiming to maintain their momentum. 

"Even if we lost a couple [of games], we were still trending in the right direction," Collins said. "Everybody's kind of having a good run right now.

"We're crashing the glass a little bit more, just playing a little bit harder and, obviously, that's easier when things are going well.

"We're winning games and the vibes are high. So we just got to make sure we keep doing those things here."

CARDIAC BULLS STRIKE AGAIN. BEEP BEEP. pic.twitter.com/bWWHB7Upiu

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 27, 2025

The Bulls have been at their best this season when multiple players have chipped in offensively and competing defensively, with the Sixers missing their last six shots. 

As well as Collins and Jones, White and Josh Giddey (12) were a combined 7-for-24 from the field, but this win was different from the others during their impressive run. 

The Sixers shot just 37.6% from the field, with many surprised to see a Chicago team not necessarily built to win games because of its defence and out-hustle an opponent. 

Jones also finished with six rebounds in the game, receiving credit from Collins for his performance. 

"You just got to give all the credit to [Jones'] IQ," Collins said. "He knows where to be in those moments, and [Donovan] puts a lot of trust in him."