NBA: Josh Giddey, Thunder top skidding Bulls
Josh Giddey finished the season with 25 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 124-110 win over hosts the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
The Thunder have won five of their last seven games, averaging over 125 points per game over that period. The Bulls have lost three games in a row.
Oklahoma City has passed two meetings between the teams this season.
Giddey, one of three Thunder players to score 20 or more points, added 10 rebounds and six assists.
Jalen Williams scored 22 points on a 10/12 shot while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 21 points.
This is only the third time this season Gilgeous-Alexander has played but failed to lead the Thunder in scoring.
Thunder dominated at both ends of the floor with 12 steals and scored 64 in the paint. OKC ended the competition with a 124-110 win over Chicago.
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– OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 14, 2023
After Oklahoma City took an 18-point lead, Williams helped the Thunder hold off the Bulls, scoring nine points and hitting all four shots in his fourth inning.
The Thunder was 14 out of 24 from the floor in the fourth inning, finishing at 51.1%.
Oklahoma City overtook Chicago with a score of 64-44.
Zach LaVine leads the Bulls with 25 points, ranked 5/19 on the field. LaVine is 14 out of 15 from the free throw line. Coby White and Nikola Vucevic each get 19 points.
After the Thunder took a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter, the Bulls closed the first game 13-3. Oklahoma City was just 1 to 7 in the last three minutes.
In game two, it was the Thunder that closed strongly after the Bulls spiked to six points.
Oklahoma City reeled at 30-10, with Chicago taking the lead 4/13, to take a 14 lead just before half.
The Thunder led 18 at the start of the third quarter but the Bulls cut the deficit to just one by a 28-11 scoreline in the final 10 minutes.
Patrick Williams scored 11 points as Chicago finished 12th out of 21 in the third inning.
20th win of the season for the Thunder.. Last season, Oklahoma City didn’t win its 20th game until March 2.
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