CHICAGO — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder with 23 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed significantly with 21 points and a personal best of 16 rebounds, as the Thunder decisively defeated the Chicago Bulls 114-95 in Chicago’s home opener on Saturday.
Jalen Williams also had an impressive performance, finishing the game with 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
On the Bulls’ side, Zach LaVine scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Josh Giddey, who recently joined the Bulls from the Thunder in a deal for Alex Caruso, scored 14 points and secured seven rebounds in his first matchup against his former team. Oklahoma City granted Giddey’s wish to be traded after he had a diminished role in the team’s playoff run.
Caruso, a fan favorite during his tenure with the Bulls, received a warm welcome from the crowd, earning a standing ovation when he entered the game late in the first quarter and finishing with three points in 22 minutes.
**Takeaways**
For the Thunder, this victory marks a strong start to the season, following their impressive 102-87 win against the Denver Nuggets. After finishing last season as the top seed in the Western Conference with a record of 57-25, Oklahoma City is maintaining their competitive edge.
In contrast, the Bulls struggled to find their pace after their success against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks the night before. Chicago’s shooting performance was below par, as they managed just 34.8% overall and converted only 15 of their 53 attempts from beyond the arc.
**Key Moment**
The turning point of the game occurred when the Thunder closed out the first half with an impressive 22-3 run, taking a commanding 59-39 lead into halftime.
**Key Stat**
The Bulls saw a significant drop in their shooting accuracy from three-point range compared to their previous game against Milwaukee, where they shot 21 of 47. Coby White, who had an exceptional 35-point performance in that game, struggled this time, going 0 for 9 from long distance.
**Up Next**
The Thunder will be back in action at home on Sunday, facing off against the Atlanta Hawks, while the Bulls will travel to Memphis for their game on Monday.