The Oklahoma City Thunder turned a slow start into a convincing 131-113 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at Paycom Center. After trailing by five at the end of the first quarter and by five again at halftime, Oklahoma City steadily shifted the game with a strong third quarter and then pulled away in the fourth. The Thunder improved to 58-16 with the home victory, while the Bulls dropped to 29-44 after another difficult road result.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Chicago opened the game with good pace and shot-making, putting up 32 points in the opening period to take a 32-29 lead. The Bulls were able to stay organized offensively and kept Oklahoma City from fully settling into its rhythm early.
Second Quarter: The Bulls maintained that edge in the second, adding 35 more points and taking a 67-62 lead into halftime. Even with Oklahoma City scoring 33 in the quarter, Chicago continued to find enough offense to stay in front through two periods.
Third Quarter: The game changed after the break. Oklahoma City outscored Chicago 33-21 in the third quarter, tightening up defensively and doing a better job on the glass. That swing erased the halftime deficit and gave the Thunder a 95-88 lead entering the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter: The Thunder finished the job with their most productive stretch of the night. Oklahoma City scored 36 points in the fourth while holding Chicago to 25, creating separation over the final 12 minutes. What had been a competitive game at halftime became a comfortable home win by the closing minutes.
Key Performers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 25 points, setting the tone for a balanced offensive effort. Cason Wallace delivered an efficient lift with 21 points and three steals, while Jalen Williams directed the offense with eight assists. Isaiah Hartenstein controlled the interior with 16 rebounds as the Thunder finished with a 58-47 advantage on the glass.
For Chicago, Collin Sexton led the team with 22 points. Tre Jones added 21 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in one of the Bulls’ most complete individual performances of the night. Josh Giddey handed out 11 assists, and Matas Buzelis paced Chicago on the boards with nine rebounds.
Game Analysis
The clearest difference in this game was Oklahoma City’s second-half control. After giving up 67 first-half points, the Thunder limited the Bulls to 46 after halftime and consistently won the extra-possession battle. Oklahoma City finished with 58 rebounds to Chicago’s 47, a key factor in maintaining pressure even on a night when neither team was especially sharp from three-point range.
The Thunder also showed their depth. Oklahoma City had multiple contributors beyond Gilgeous-Alexander, and that balance helped the team keep its offense moving. The Thunder recorded 29 assists on 47 made field goals and attempted 101 shots, compared with 98 for Chicago. That combination of ball movement, rebounding, and defensive improvement helped Oklahoma City take control in the final two quarters.
Chicago had a productive first half and moved the ball well overall, finishing with 25 assists, but the efficiency dipped later in the game. The Bulls shot 41.8 percent from the field and managed only 21 third-quarter points, which opened the door for Oklahoma City’s turnaround. Once the Thunder got in front, the Bulls were unable to string together enough stops to make the final minutes tight.
Closing Context
The win moved Oklahoma City to 58-16 overall and 30-7 at home, another strong step for one of the Western Conference’s top teams as the regular season enters its final stretch. Chicago fell to 29-44 and 11-24 on the road, leaving the Bulls with little margin as they continue to chase late-season positioning. On this night, the Thunder’s second-half execution made the difference and sent the Paycom Center crowd of 18,203 home with another comfortable result.
