The Chicago Bulls endured a heavy 145-117 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking their third-worst defeat of the season with a 28-point margin. Chicago struggled offensively, shooting 44.9% from the field and 31.4% from three, while committing 20 turnovers.
Only three Bulls starters reached double figures, with Coby White’s 15-game streak of scoring 20 or more points coming to an end. White managed just seven points on five shot attempts—his second-lowest scoring performance of the season and his fewest shot attempts in any game. The two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week finished with a disappointing minus-39 rating.
In his return to Oklahoma City, Josh Giddey contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists, but he also struggled with efficiency, shooting 40% from the field and 20% from three. His plus/minus of minus-24 wasn’t far off from White’s.
The Bulls were completely outclassed by the league-leading Thunder. No Chicago player truly stood out, though Patrick Williams scored 16 points—his highest total in two months—yet still finished with a minus-32 rating. The only Bulls players with a positive plus/minus were reserves Jalen Smith, Jevon Carter, and Talen Horton-Tucker, who had recently been receiving DNP-CDs. They combined for 43 points, nearly all in the second half.
Chicago’s lone bright spot came in the fourth quarter, where they outscored Oklahoma City 43-31. However, this was merely a reflection of how lopsided the game had been, as the Bulls had trailed by 43 points in the third quarter and entered the final frame down 114-74.
Losing to the Thunder is hardly a major disappointment—only eight teams have beaten Oklahoma City this season, most of which have winning records. The Bulls were underdogs heading into this matchup, especially on the road, despite performing better away from the United Center.
Three Key Takeaways from the Blowout Loss
- The Bulls Slip to 10th in the East
With Miami’s 25-point win over Washington, Chicago has fallen to 10th place in the Eastern Conference. PlayoffStatus now gives them a 48% chance of finishing in that spot. - Doubts About the Bulls’ Post-All-Star Surge Are Justified
Chicago showed resilience throughout March, competing defensively and winning tight games. However, this loss highlighted their limitations, as they were completely outmatched from start to finish, failing to keep the game competitive once they fell behind. The Bulls’ defense was lethargic, allowing a season-high in points while displaying poor attention to detail. - A Preview of a Possible Playoff Struggle
Although Oklahoma City is a Western Conference team, this game mirrored what the Bulls could face in the first round of the playoffs. If they advance past the Play-In Tournament, they’ll likely meet either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics—both of whom are on the Thunder’s level. Cleveland has already reached 60 wins, while Boston, riding a nine-game winning streak, is on the verge of doing the same.