Thunder Extend Winning Streak with 145-117 Blowout Over Bulls

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Chicago Bulls 145-117 on Monday night, marking their 10th consecutive victory in a game played at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded the Thunder with 27 points and 12 assists in only 27 minutes, demonstrating his efficiency before sitting out the fourth quarter. Isaiah Joe came off the bench to lead all scorers with 31 points, tying his season-high with eight 3-pointers.

With this win, the Thunder improved their record to 63-12 and solidified their dominance against Eastern Conference opponents, now standing at 28-1 this season. Oklahoma City initially showcased their prowess by scoring 85 points in the middle two quarters, including a staggering 45 points in the second quarter.

“Our defense turned into offense tonight,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said postgame. “We created turnovers and made them pay on the other end.”

The Thunder expanded a modest nine-point lead into a commanding 43-point advantage by the third quarter, effectively sealing the game long before the final buzzer. Josh Giddey made his return to Oklahoma City with 15 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.

The Bulls, on the other hand, have now lost two consecutively after a four-game winning streak. They dropped to 10th in the Eastern Conference standings after this defeat. Jevon Carter was the standout performer for Chicago, providing 17 points off the bench.

“We need to regroup,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan stated. “This isn’t where we want to be, and we have to stop the bleeding.”

Oklahoma City’s victory also put them on pace to challenge for 70 wins this season, a feat only achieved by two other teams in NBA history. They are one win shy of equaling their franchise record for the most victories in a season.

The Thunder will face the Detroit Pistons next and look to extend their remarkable run. Meanwhile, the Bulls will host the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday as they aim to secure a playoff berth.