NBA: Thunder, minus Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, ease past Bulls

Jared McCain scored 20 points, Isaiah Joe added 19, and Jaylin Williams recorded 17 points with 16 rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the host Chicago Bulls 116-108 on Tuesday.

Oklahoma City pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Chicago 32-22, and held off a late push from the Bulls' bench to hand Chicago its 12th loss in 13 games.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was sidelined to manage an abdominal strain. The reigning NBA MVP had scored 66 points in the team’s wins on Friday and Sunday after missing nine previous games due to injury.

Aaron Wiggins contributed 18 points and Cason Wallace 17 for the Thunder, who have won six of their past seven games. Chet Holmgren added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Matas Buzelis briefly gave the Bulls a two-point lead early in the third quarter with a pair of free throws, but Chicago never led again. Collin Sexton led Chicago with 20 points, while Josh Giddey nearly had a triple-double with 14 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. Guerschon Yabusele (18 points, 12 rebounds) and Nick Richards (12 points, 13 rebounds) also posted double-doubles, and Tre Jones added 15 points.

Buzelis exited late in the third quarter after rolling his right ankle. He was the only Bulls player to appear in all 62 games this season.

The teams struggled offensively early, combining for just 4-of-21 shooting, including 1-of-11 from three-point range. Oklahoma City led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but Chicago stayed close despite committing 11 turnovers before halftime and 19 for the game. Sexton’s driving layup at the halftime buzzer brought the Bulls within 55-54 after the Thunder were held to just three points over the final 2:35 of the second quarter.

Joe and Yabusele scored 15 points each in the first half, with Joe contributing nine straight Thunder points during a stretch of the second quarter.

The Thunder have now won seven straight games against the Bulls, including a four-game winning streak in Chicago.

—Field Level Media/Reuters