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 The Bulls captured a 104-98 victory against the Oklahoma City
Thunder, just two days after losing by 25 points on the road against
the Charlotte Hornets.
Chicago guards Derrick Rose (29 points) and Jimmy Butler (26 points)
outdid the Thunder's dynamic duo of Kevin Durant (33 points) and
Russell Westbrook (20 points and 10 assists), with Rose scoring 10
of Chicago's final 12 points to seal the victory.
"It was embarrassing a little bit," Rose said of the loss to
Charlotte. "Looking at film right after it happened, when we lost by
30 or 20 or whatever it was, I was frustrated. I felt like we let
each other down."
A couple days later, Rose picked the Bulls up down the stretch. He
drilled four difficult jump shots and hit a pair of free throws in
the final 3:35 of the game to put the Thunder away.
"Derrick Rose hit four tough (jumpers), and we wanted him to take
those tough shots," said Durant, who scored 11 points in the fourth
and 21 in the second half. "He hit them tonight, a few backboard
shots. You know, that's why he's Derrick Rose and he's a great
player. We fought back with eight minutes to go, but just didn't
pull it out."
Oklahoma City (3-3), which also got 17 points from forward Serge
Ibaka, has lost three straight after winning its first three games
to start the season. The Thunder nearly pulled off a comeback to
beat the Bulls, but Rose was too much to overcome.
Trailing 90-84 with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter, Westbrook and
Durant combined to score six straight points to tie it 90-90.
Oklahoma City pulled even three times down the stretch, but never
regained the lead and never led in the second half.
"We just have to get a win," Durant said. "That's what our focus is.
We've lost three in a row, and that's kind of foreign territory for
the Thunder. We need to get back to it."
Forward Pau Gasol finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while
reserves Aaron Brooks and Taj Gibson each scored nine points for the
Bulls (4-2), who led 57-50 at the half. After falling behind early
in the first quarter, Chicago erased a three-point deficit in the
opening 4:39 of the second quarter with an impressive 15-4 run
sparked by a balanced attack. Brooks and Gibson contributed five
points each, while Butler and Rose did the rest.
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Chicago's starting guard tandem also finished the quarter strong,
scoring the Bulls' final 17 points. Butler finished the first half
with 21 points, the most he's had in a first half in his NBA career.
Rose had 11 points at the break.
"I wouldn't say (we have to) carry the scoring load, but we have to
lead the bunch," Butler said. "That's for sure. Any given night,
anybody can have it going. You've got to feed that guy that's hot.
(Rose) had it going, so get him the ball."
That's exactly what they did down the stretch, and Rose rewarded
them with a big win.
"When he's rolling like that," Butler said, "it just makes everybody
else's job a lot easier."
NOTES: Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg gave second-year F Doug McDermott
his first career NBA start by replacing G/F Tony Snell. ... The
Bulls played without F Mike Dunleavy (back) and guard Kirk Hinrich
(toe), who got an injection in his toe and might also miss
Saturday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. ... Oklahoma
City lost center Steven Adams during the game to a back injury. No
update was given after the game. Thunder coach Billy Donovan had
high praise for Bulls C/F Joakim Noah, who helped him win two
national championships at Florida. "I love the guy," Donovan said.
"I think a lot of people see the floppy hair, the chest bumping and
the passion, but I don't think people, a lot of times, really get a
chance to see him in a locker room. He's one of the greatest
teammates I've ever had a chance to coach."
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