For the first time since January 10, the Bulls played a game of basketball. In the first of two games, they conceded a 22-point lead in the second half to Thunder in Oklahoma City, dropping 127-125 in overtime.
Here’s what stood out:
Lauri Markkanen returns
After an absence of seven and a half games due to the health and safety protocols of COVID-19 (close contact), which was preceded by a calf injury, Markkanen returned to the Bulls starting lineup on Friday.
He played 15 active minutes in the first half. In the first quarter, he overcame an initial turn by hitting a catch-and-shoot 3, hitting two free-throw attempts down a curve and blocking a Darius Bazley float. In the second, he scored five more points, including an impressive finish and one, and another block.
Later, when the game started to slip in the fourth half, Markkanen dumped two 3s to keep his balance. But he was not a very offensive factor later. He finished with 16 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a litany of other impressive defensive possessions. A solid individual showing his first exit back.
Rotary reintegration
We knew that Markkanen’s return would leave someone out looking for the Bulls’ rotation. As could be predicted, that person was Daniel Gafford. The spark plug center did not register a minute in this, as Markkanen and Thad Young shared minutes in the reserve center.
That decision made extra sense against a small Thunder team, without Al Horford. But it might as well stay.
Turnover issues
Zach LaVine caught fire over sections, and the Bulls’ scoring attack was balanced. All five entries ended in double digits. LaVine posted his fourth consecutive 30-point game with 35 on 11 of 18 shots (8 on 13 of 3), Coby White opened 22-9-7 and Wendell Carter Jr. (16 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks) had his fourth double-double of the season.
But the twists and turns were again the story of the night. The Thunder turned 24 Bulls coughs, six of which belonged to LaVine, by 33 points. Nine of those weaknesses came in a third quarter, Thunder won 37-27, and seven more came in the fourth. The snowball races that took place eventually ended in defeat.
Another oddity: the Bulls hit 11 out of 16 in the charity between the second half and overtime. These points turned out to be big.
The Curse of the Chesapeake Energy Arena strikes again
In a game on December 16, 2019, the Bulls led the Thunder 68-49 – in Oklahoma City – at halftime, but ended up losing by 109-106. On Friday, they led 68-50 at halftime.
Obviously, these circumstances are not analogous. Paul didn’t come through that door to the Thunder. But it reflected that fateful competition. After pushing Thunder to cut its deficit to two in one point in the third, the Bulls squandered a 16 point lead with 4:40 to play, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 points, 10 assists, 13 para- 19 FG) three-point game over Coby White – in a ball possession permitted by LaVine’s offensive foul – tied the game 118-118.
The final ownership of the Bulls ‘regulation ended in a contested LaVine 3 that failed, and an extension period in which the Bulls’ attack continued to stagnate. Thunder won the table 9-7. The game ended in a LaVine pull-up 3 that hit the rim when the time that would have won it expired.
And to make matters worse, LaVine hobbled off the floor after the final honk after a collision at the end of overtime.
It’s as bad a loss as you could make for the Bulls. After the first half passed, all the demons attacked in the second and the result is a defeat that spoils the goodwill of a competitive trip on the West Coast. The losing streak is up to four.
Next: In Dallas against the Mavericks on Sunday.
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