|
 "Yeah, we're too much holding," Hoiberg said. "We gotta get that
thing moving side-to-side. It's way too much holding the ball."
Whether or not Rose is struggling with the pace, he certainly has
had issues on the offensive end during a three-game stretch of
single-digit efforts, including a four-point showing in a 130-105
loss at Charlotte on Tuesday. The Bulls may get a cranky Thunder
team that blew a six-point lead in the final two minutes of a 103-98
loss to Toronto at home on Wednesday. Kevin Durant scored 27 points
and Russell Westbrook had 22 and 16 assists as Oklahoma City dropped
its second straight following a 3-0 start.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE THUNDER (3-2): Finishing games has been an issue in the
back-to-back losses for Oklahoma City, which was outscored by 16
points in the second half of a 110-105 setback against Houston on
Monday before its fourth-quarter collapse versus Toronto.
Inconsistency has plagued the squad in this stretch; the Thunder
followed up a 39-point second quarter against the Rockets with a
14-point third and had efforts of 16 points, 42 points and 17 points
in succession to finish the loss to the Raptors. On the other hand,
Durant has been the model of consistency with at least 25 points in
each of his last four games.
ABOUT THE BULLS (3-2): Another holdover has joined Rose with a
notable early-season disappearing act, as Joakim Noah is struggling
to contribute. Noah was held scoreless and turned the ball over four
times in 17 minutes against the Bobcats and is shooting 36.4 percent
on the season. The one bright spot Tuesday was the debut for rookie
Bobby Portis, who had 10 points in 10 minutes.
[to top of second column] |
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Westbrook averaged 39.5 points as the teams split two meetings
last season.
2. Bulls SF Doug McDermott is 12-for-20 from 3-point range.
3. The Thunder entered Wednesday leading the league with eight
blocks a game before getting a total of 10 from Durant, C Steven
Adams and PF Serge Ibaka.
PREDICTION: Bulls 104, Thunder 100
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