The fittest team in the league, the Thunder are closing in on the top of the Western Conference. After its success last night against the Bulls (116-102), the Oklahoma City team is riding a series of six consecutive victories, the best dynamic in progress.
At the heart of the current form, we find Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of course, against which Alex Caruso and the Chicago players could not find a solution. The latter, who played without Zach LaVine (foot), had all the difficulty in the world getting into their match.
Limited to 14 points after twelve minutes (26-14, then 50-39), with DeMar DeRozan contained with only one basket in the game in the first period, the visitors got going in the third quarter, the most offensive of the game. The leader of the Bulls then took over from Coby White, very fit behind the arc and one of the rare Bulls to hold off in the first period.
Launched into a race for free throws with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, from which the latter would emerge victorious with his team – 38 throws for the Thunder (31/38) against 17 for the Bulls (17/17), DeMar DeRozan brought his team to three possessions at the start of the last quarter (84-77).
Despite the weak performance of its bench, Chicago continued to hang on thanks to its holders. But the Thunder, authoritarian in its protection of the circle (12 blocks), did not give in. Kenrich Williams brought significant energy from the bench, to compensate for the non-match of Luguentz Dort, who came out for six fouls without making any noise.
Above all, four minutes from time, “SGA” looked well to find Chet Holmgren under the circle. Then after respective passages of the two men at the throws, the one who will attract the chants of “ MVP! » found Isaiah Joe, author of another great evening of skill, for a four-point action in “dagger” mode.
Alex Caruso will be able to bite his fingers. The Bulls defensive specialist failed to contain the “drives” of his opponent, who ensured the rises of the ball in place of Josh Giddey, and missed three good 3-point shots in the last quarter , including two, in quick succession in the corner with one minute to go.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Longest streak since 2019. February 2019. You have to go back to this period to see the Thunder string together a series of six consecutive victories. More than four years only but this era seems so distant because Russell Westbrook, Paul George and even Jerami Grant were then the leaders of the Thunder.
– Third best scorer for the Thunder. Speaking of Russell Westbrook, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes close. In his fifth season with the Thunder, the guard, who averages 30 points this season, is now the third best scorer in the franchise behind Kevin Durant and the former point guard. Things like that are always cool. This is what we dream of when we are children. This list clearly has some heavy hitters. We won tonight and that’s all that matters “, he reacted.
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.
