Thunder 116, Bulls 108: The Day After Report

Box Score | Play-by-Play

The Shai-less Thunder were ice cold in chilly Chicago, shooting 23.8% on 10-42 three-point shooting and clinging to a 55-54 lead at halftime against Josh Giddey (14 pts, 9 rbs, 9 ast) and the Bulls. While the shots from deep never fell, Oklahoma City's patented turnovers-leading-to-offense machine chugged along as the Thunder built and maintained a double digit lead for the entire fourth quarter. Well, almost the entire fourth quarter. Chicago's 12-0 flurry stalled with 19 seconds remaining on a missed Leonard Miller three that would have pulled the Bulls within 3. OKC holds on for another shorthanded win.

Nuggets & Notes

• The Oklahoma City Thunder once again have the best record in the NBA. The Detroit Pistons lost to a Donovan Mitchelless Cavs team. OKC and Detroit have the same number of losses, but the Thunder have three more wins.
• Remember early in the OKC rebuild when we all tracked Josh Giddey's potential assists from brilliant passes that his teammates didn't finish? Major flashbacks of those days watching Giddey with the Bulls tonight.
• Nice game from Giddey, though. He finished just 1 rebound and 1 assist from a triple double. And the former Chip Engelland student knocked down 3 of 7 treys.
• The OKC Razorbacks teamed up to score 9 points in just over 1 minute: Isaiah Joe 3-pointer. Isaiah Joe cut to the rim off a nice halfcourt pass from JWill. Isaiah Joe tough contested finish off a pass from JWill. And another Isaiah Joe cut to the rim off a nice bounce pass from JWill.

• The best way to earn a trip to the free throw line against OKC is to hit Chet Holmgren in the face. I don’t know how many times I’ve tweeted this season that Chet got a shot to the face and the offender was the one shooting freebies. But it’s more than three or four, which is three or four more than you’d expect.
• Holmgren had blocks on back to back possessions. Chet has 13 blocks in his last 5 games.
• Jared McCain had 20 points for the third time with the Thunder. JMac has scored 10+ points in 8 of the last 9 games. I fully encourage OKC to buy high more often.
• Jared McCain missed his first three 3-pointers of the night. He made his next four 3-pointers.
• Look away, Philly fans. The top two scorers for OKC over the past 9 games: Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain.
• Whoever Daryl Morey drafts with that Rockets pick OKC sent to Philly is going to be a great shooter off the Thunder bench in a couple years.
• Jaylin Williams was great tonight. 17 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 turnover. Came up only 4 assists short of a triple double. Pro tip, JWill: just pass more to the former 76ers.
• Nice bounce back game from Aaron Wiggins. He started tonight and scored 18 points on 8-17 shooting with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 0 turnovers. Sure, his deep ball still isn’t falling. But he was also a game high +17.
• Back to back possessions: Cason Wallace steal -> Cason Wallace dunk. Cason Wallace steal -> Cason Wallace bucket at the rim.
• Game seemed over with when OKC was up 112-94 with 3:35 to go. Then the Bulls went on a 12-0 run. Mark Daigneault subbed Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe and Alex Caruso back in to stop the bleeding and close the game.
• Billy Donovan update: still chews gum a lot.
• Postgame interview shenanigans report: Jalen Williams put his NASCAR (? I dunno, I’m not cool) jacket on Nick Gallo. JDub also draped a towel over Jared McCain’s head.

One Key Takeaway: Impossibly Deep