The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Chicago Bulls 116-108, playing without superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Tuesday night.
Jared McCain had 20 points, including four three-pointers, and Isaiah Joe added 19, Aaron Wiggins contributed 18, while Jaylin Williams tallied 17 points and 16 rebounds.
Cason Wallace also had 17 points, and Chet Holmgren added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the defending NBA champion Thunder held out Gilgeous-Alexander to manage an abdominal strain that sidelined him for most of last month.
Despite the absence, the Thunder had more than enough to win for the sixth in seven games and lead the Western Conference at 48-15.
On the other hand, Collin Sexton led the Bulls with 20 points, including a 3 in the closing minute that cut it to 112-106.
Guerschon Yabusele dropped a season-high 18 points and 12 rebounds and four three-pointers for his third double-double in 11 games since a trade-deadline deal with the Knicks.
However, Josh Giddey missed his ninth triple-double and second in two games, with 14 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.
Matas Buzelis added 11 points before limping to the locker room near the end of the third, and rolled his right ankle when he stepped on Williams’s foot and did not return to the game.
Oklahoma City trailed 60-59 early in the third when Holmgren dunked to start a 14-3 run, and outscored the Bulls 8-2 over the final three minutes of the quarter.
McCain hit another triple to take an 87-76 lead to the fourth.
Both teams will play road games: the Thunder at New York on Wednesday, while the Bulls at Phoenix on Thursday.
