Deprived of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left to rest, the Thunder did not deliver their cleanest match, but still upheld the hierarchy against the Bulls (116-108). Guerschon Yabusele is Chicago’s best player with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
From the interval, the tone is set: clumsiness, missed lay-ups, passes into the stands and forced shots follow one another. Both teams seem to be lacking pace. The Thunder, still without Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Hartenstein, displays an unusually disorganized face.
Chicago, for its part, is logically struggling to find fluidity against the Thunder’s outside defense. At the end of the first quarter, the two teams combined for an ugly 15/47 shooting, including a 6/20 in the paint. In this chaotic context, the Bulls remain in contact (26-22).
Taking advantage of the absence of Isaiah Hartenstein, the interiors of Chicago impose themselves physically. Guerschon Yabusele appears particularly aggressive. The Frenchman scored 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the first half (6/11 shooting), multiplying initiatives, both outside and near the circle. Like on this furious dunk after a penetration started from the 3-point line. His activity allows the Bulls to stay in the match against a Thunder who are struggling to impose their rhythm. At the break, the Bulls were only one point behind (55-54).
One quarter is enough for the Thunder
The turning point comes at the start of the third quarter. Briefly trailing 60-59, Oklahoma City began a 14-3 lead driven by a dunk from Chet Holmgren. The Thunder accelerates, finally finds address and better exploits the spaces. Jared McCain (20 points) and Aaron Wiggins (18 points) energized the offense and combined for 19 points in the third quarter. Jaylin Williams (17 points, 16 rebounds) dominates the debates in the paint, and OKC ends the period with an 8-2, including a winning shot from McCain, to fly away to 87-76.
As if the task was not already difficult enough, Chicago lost Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis in quick succession, both victims of ankle sprains. Buzelis will not return, going straight to the locker room, while Giddey will briefly attempt a comeback before coming out for good.
Despite everything, the Bulls avoid the correction. Nick Richards took over from Guerschon Yabusele and Collin Sexton planted a 3-pointer to get back to -6 in the last minute (112-106). But the Thunder controlled the final possessions to win 116-108. Ideal before challenging the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– OKC regains its distance. The Thunder are not as brilliant as at the start of the season, but the NBA champions sign a sixth victory in seven matches. Which allows them to take three wins ahead of the Pistons, beaten against the Cavaliers, with two losses less than the Spurs.
– Yabusele s’illustre. In the Bulls’ small ball, Guerschon Yabusele is comfortable, and he signs his best first half of his career with 15 points and 8 rebounds. He had never taken so many shots in a half (11). He will be less sovereign after the break but his desire to play and his dynamism are contagious.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
