The Oklahoma City Thunder’s dominant trio of Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren combined for 68 points to secure a 114-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls in their home opener on Saturday night. Oklahoma City maintained its winning start to the season, advancing to 2-0.
Williams led the Thunder with 24 points, adding nine rebounds and eight assists to his stat line. Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 23 points and played a pivotal role in controlling the tempo, while Holmgren added 21 points and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds, establishing himself as a force in the paint.
Oklahoma City’s cohesive team play and sharp offensive execution allowed them to build a double-digit lead early on. The Thunder ended the first half on a commanding 22-3 run, taking a 59-39 lead into halftime, which Chicago struggled to close in the second half.
Chicago’s Zach LaVine scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but his efforts fell short as the Bulls shot just 34.8% from the field. Nikola Vucevic contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Coby White, coming off a strong performance against Milwaukee, struggled with his shot, going 0 for 9 from three-point range.
Holmgren’s defensive presence proved vital, limiting Chicago’s scoring opportunities and contributing to the Thunder’s strong rebounding advantage. In his first game facing Oklahoma City after an offseason trade, former Thunder guard Josh Giddey scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Chicago. The Thunder acquired Alex Caruso in the trade, who received a warm ovation from Bulls fans upon entering the game in the first quarter.
Caruso, known for his defensive prowess, made an immediate impact off the bench for Oklahoma City, recording two steals and two blocks in 22 minutes. His presence further strengthened the Thunder’s defensive lineup and contributed to limiting the Bulls’ shooting percentage.
Oklahoma City’s bench added significant support, with Aaron Wiggins scoring eight points and Isaiah Joe adding six. The team’s depth allowed them to maintain their lead throughout the game, effectively countering any scoring bursts from Chicago.
Meanwhile, Chicago faced challenges in finding a rhythm after an impressive season opener win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Their shooting cooled off significantly from beyond the arc, with the team making just 15 of 53 three-point attempts, a stark contrast to their 47% success rate against Milwaukee.
