Gilgeous-Alexander scores 40, Thunder beat Bulls for sixth straight victory
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points and 12 assists, Chet Holmgren added 18 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Chicago Bulls 116-102 on Wednesday night for their sixth straight victory.
Isaiah Joe scored 20 points for the Thunder (11-4), on their longest winning streak since the 2018-19 season.
Gilgeous-Alexander raised his average to 30 points for the season and was showered with “MVP! MVP!” chants as he closed out the game with six free throws down the stretch.
In his fifth season with the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander moved up to third on the Oklahoma City scoring list, behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
“Stuff like that is always cool. It’s what you dream of as a kid. Obviously the list has some heavy hitters on it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We won tonight and that’s all that really matters.”
Gilgeous-Alexander is seeing more double-teams as opponents try to get the ball out of his hands and he credits that for being able to rack up more assists. He accounted for 71 of the Thunder's 116 points Wednesday.
“It’s been a process. I feel like I’m getting better at it. The best players to ever play go through it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Coach (Mark Daigneault) has been great with helping me. My teammates have been really good, knowing it’s coming as well getting ready in spots knowing the ball is coming out of the trap to make plays and make the next basketball play.”
Daignault was as impressed with Gilgeous-Alexander’s defense as well as his offense and commended his star player and the team for being gritty down the stretch.
“It’s not football, where you just play quarterback,” Daignault said. “To have a guy as engaged and smart as he is, obviously with his length he gets deflections and blocks. He was a two-way player tonight, not just with his scoring. I thought he took what they gave him as far as early passes, getting his teammates involved."
DeMar DeRozan, after making just one basket in the first half, led the Bulls with 25 points.
After being held to 14 points in the first quarter, the Bulls (5-11) got five 3-pointers from Coby White in the second period, but the Bulls still trailed 50-39 at the half. White finished with 23 points, including a season-high seven 3-pointers.
Chicago chipped away at the Thunder’s 11-point halftime lead, tying the game midway through the third quarter on a bucket and free throw from DeRozan before Oklahoma City got back-to-back 3s from Joe and Kenrich Williams to give the Thunder the lead they never relinquished.
“It’s a struggle when you lose, but I see them fighting and trying,” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. “We just haven’t been consistent enough, and we haven’t been consistent in shooting the basketball. I felt our guys were really trying. We just have these stretches where we dig ourselves somewhat of a hole. We just have to keep fighting through and being more consistent.”
The Bulls, playing without Zach LaVine because of a sore right foot, could get no closer than three in the final period before Gilgeous-Alexander finished the contest with eight straight points.
Oklahoma City won both meetings against the Bulls this season.
UP NEXT
Bulls: At Toronto on Friday.
Thunder: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Nikola Vucevic vs. Chet Holmgren (Josh Giddey gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 | | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point driving finger roll layup | 0-2 |
| 11:26 |  | Nikola Vucevic misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:23 | | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | DeMar DeRozan blocks Josh Giddey's two point cutting layup | ||
| 11:04 | | Chet Holmgren offensive rebound | ||
| 11:04 | | Chet Holmgren misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:02 | | Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound | ||
| 10:52 | | Patrick Williams misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:50 | | Nikola Vucevic offensive rebound | ||
| 10:49 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blocks Nikola Vucevic's two point putback layup | ||
| 10:49 | | Bulls offensive rebound | ||
| 10:47 | | DeMar DeRozan misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:44 | | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | ||
| 10:33 | | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:30 | | Alex Caruso defensive rebound | ||
| 10:20 | | Coby White misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:17 | | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | ||
| 10:08 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving dunk | 0-4 |
| 9:54 | | Coby White misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:51 | | Nikola Vucevic offensive rebound | ||
| 9:51 | | +2 | Nikola Vucevic makes two point tip layup | 2-4 |
| 9:43 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving layup | 2-6 |
| 9:27 | | DeMar DeRozan misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:25 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 9:17 | | Chet Holmgren misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 9:16 | | Cason Wallace offensive rebound | ||
| 9:13 | | Cason Wallace turnover (bad pass) (DeMar DeRozan steals) | ||
| 9:02 | | Luguentz Dort personal foul (Patrick Williams draws the foul) | ||
| 8:56 | | DeMar DeRozan misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:51 | | Alex Caruso offensive rebound | ||
| 8:46 | | +3 | Coby White makes three point jump shot (Patrick Williams assists) | 5-6 |
| 8:28 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 5-8 |
| 8:12 | | Nikola Vucevic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:10 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 7:53 | | +2 | Luguentz Dort makes two point driving layup (Chet Holmgren assists) | 5-10 |
| 7:51 | | Bulls 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:32 | | Coby White misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:28 | | Thunder defensive rebound | ||
| 7:28 | | DeMar DeRozan kicked ball violation | ||
| 7:12 | | Josh Giddey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:09 | | DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound | ||
| 6:47 | | Bulls turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 6:31 | | Josh Giddey misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:31 | | Thunder offensive rebound | ||
| 6:28 | | Jump ball. Jaylin Williams vs. Nikola Vucevic (Josh Giddey gains possession) | ||
| 6:12 | | Luguentz Dort misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 6:09 | | Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound | ||
| 6:01 | | Patrick Williams misses two point layup | ||
| 6:01 | | Patrick Williams offensive rebound | ||
| 6:01 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shooting foul (Patrick Williams draws the foul) | ||
| 6:01 | | +1 | Patrick Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-10 |
| 6:01 | | +1 | Patrick Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-10 |
| 5:47 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 7-12 |
| 5:25 | | Alex Caruso misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:21 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | ||
| 5:12 | | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:09 | | Patrick Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 4:52 | | Coby White misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:49 | | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 4:35 | | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point jump shot (Lindy Waters III assists) | 7-15 |
| 4:12 | | Alex Caruso misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:10 | | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 4:00 | | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:56 | | Alex Caruso defensive rebound | ||
| 3:47 | | Jaylin Williams personal foul (Nikola Vucevic draws the foul) | ||
| 3:40 | | Cason Wallace personal foul (Coby White draws the foul) | ||
| 3:32 | | +2 | Nikola Vucevic makes two point floating jump shot (Coby White assists) | 9-15 |
| 3:17 | | Isaiah Joe misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:15 | | Lindy Waters III offensive rebound | ||
| 3:07 | | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 9-18 |
| 2:49 | | +3 | Ayo Dosunmu makes three point jump shot (Coby White assists) | 12-18 |
| 2:40 | | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:36 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offensive rebound | ||
| 2:28 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:26 | | Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound | ||
| 2:06 | | Lindy Waters III blocks Coby White's two point layup | ||
| 2:04 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | ||
| 2:04 | | Thunder 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:01 | | Jump ball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Coby White (Isaiah Joe gains possession) | ||
| 1:59 | | +2 | Isaiah Joe makes two point running dunk (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 12-20 |
| 1:40 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shooting foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul) | ||
| 1:40 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-20 |
| 1:40 | | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-20 |
| 1:27 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving layup | ||
| 1:24 | | Chet Holmgren offensive rebound | ||
| 1:24 | | Chet Holmgren misses two point tip layup | ||
| 1:24 | | Chet Holmgren offensive rebound | ||
| 1:20 | | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point putback layup | 14-22 |
| 1:11 | | Torrey Craig misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:08 | | Andre Drummond offensive rebound | ||
| 1:06 | | Jevon Carter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:02 | | Lindy Waters III defensive rebound | ||
| 0:45 | | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point driving dunk (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 14-24 |
| 0:30 | | Chet Holmgren blocks Andre Drummond's two point hook shot | ||
| 0:28 | | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | ||
| 0:19 | | Torrey Craig shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 0:19 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-25 |
| 0:19 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-26 |
| 0:03 | | Jevon Carter misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:49 | | DeMar DeRozan misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 11:46 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 11:24 | | Vasilije Micic misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Torrey Craig defensive rebound | ||
| 11:09 | | Jevon Carter misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:06 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 10:45 | | +2 | Kenrich Williams makes two point layup (Vasilije Micic assists) | 14-28 |
| 10:31 | | Chet Holmgren blocks Andre Drummond's two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 10:29 | | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | ||
| 10:27 | | Torrey Craig shooting foul (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | ||
| 10:27 | | +1 | Chet Holmgren makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-29 |
| 10:27 | | Chet Holmgren misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 10:26 | | Andre Drummond defensive rebound | ||
| 10:15 | | Luguentz Dort blocks DeMar DeRozan's two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:12 | | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Vasilije Micic turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 10:02 | | Bulls 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:48 | | Luguentz Dort blocks DeMar DeRozan's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:47 | | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 9:28 | | Vasilije Micic turnover (bad pass) (Ayo Dosunmu steals) | ||
| 9:26 | | +2 | Ayo Dosunmu makes two point running dunk | 16-29 |
| 9:04 | | Josh Giddey misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:02 | | Torrey Craig defensive rebound | ||
| 8:58 | | Ayo Dosunmu misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:56 | | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | ||
| 8:48 | | +3 | Kenrich Williams makes three point jump shot (Luguentz Dort assists) | 16-32 |
| 8:30 | | Jevon Carter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:29 | | Thunder defensive rebound | ||
| 8:17 | | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:14 | | Josh Giddey offensive rebound | ||
| 8:10 | | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving floating jump shot | 16-34 |
| 7:51 | | +3 | Coby White makes three point jump shot (Ayo Dosunmu assists) | 19-34 |
| 7:34 | | Coby White shooting foul (Josh Giddey draws the foul) | ||
| 7:34 | | +1 | Josh Giddey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-35 |
| 7:34 | | Josh Giddey misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 7:32 | | Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound | ||
| 7:07 | | Coby White turnover (bad pass) (Josh Giddey steals) | ||
| 7:03 | | +2 | Vasilije Micic makes two point running layup (Josh Giddey assists) | 19-37 |
| 6:41 | | Patrick Williams turnover (bad pass) (Chet Holmgren steals) | ||
| 6:31 | | Vasilije Micic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:27 | | Chet Holmgren offensive rebound | ||
| 6:25 | | Chet Holmgren turnover (lost ball) (Coby White steals) | ||
| 6:15 | | +3 | Ayo Dosunmu makes three point jump shot (Jevon Carter assists) | 22-37 |
| 6:13 | | Thunder 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:06 | | Josh Giddey misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 6:03 | | Jaylin Williams offensive rebound | ||
| 6:03 | | Jaylin Williams misses two point tip layup | ||
| 6:03 | | Patrick Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 5:52 | | Jaylin Williams personal foul (Nikola Vucevic draws the foul) | ||
| 5:46 | | +3 | Coby White makes three point jump shot (Jevon Carter assists) | 25-37 |
| 5:28 | | Nikola Vucevic kicked ball violation | ||
| 5:15 | | Vasilije Micic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:15 | | Thunder offensive rebound | ||
| 5:14 | | Thunder turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 5:01 | | +3 | Coby White makes three point jump shot (Nikola Vucevic assists) | 28-37 |
| 4:38 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point pullup jump shot | 28-39 |
| 4:27 | | Coby White turnover (traveling) | ||
| 4:15 | | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:12 | | Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound | ||
| 4:05 | | Nikola Vucevic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:01 | | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 3:56 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (traveling) | ||
| 3:42 | | DeMar DeRozan misses two point jump shot | ||
| 3:39 | | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 3:28 | | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 28-42 |
| 3:04 | | Alex Caruso misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 3:02 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | ||
| 2:58 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point running layup | 28-44 |
| 2:58 | | Coby White shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 2:58 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-45 |
| 2:44 | | +3 | Coby White makes three point jump shot (DeMar DeRozan assists) | 31-45 |
| 2:24 | | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:21 | | Patrick Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 2:11 | | +3 | Alex Caruso makes three point jump shot (Coby White assists) | 34-45 |
| 1:54 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point stepback jump shot | 34-47 |
| 1:46 | | Nikola Vucevic offensive foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | ||
| 1:46 | | Nikola Vucevic turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 1:25 | | Luguentz Dort turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 1:17 | | +2 | DeMar DeRozan makes two point pullup jump shot | 36-47 |
| 1:01 | | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 36-50 |
| 0:37 | | +3 | Coby White makes three point jump shot (DeMar DeRozan assists) | 39-50 |
| 0:28 | | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:25 | | Coby White defensive rebound | ||
| 0:22 | | Isaiah Joe blocks Coby White's two point layup | ||
| 0:22 | | Thunder defensive rebound | ||
| 0:05 | | DeMar DeRozan personal foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 0:04 | | Josh Giddey turnover (out of bounds bad pass) |