OKLAHOMA CITY – Billy Donovan started pulling the plug with just under three minutes left in the third quarter.
That’s all one would have to know to understand how Monday night in Oklahoma City went.
Sure, the Bulls weren’t looking to come into Thunder Country and end the home team’s nine-game winning streak, but they were looking to compete in Josh Giddey’s return trip since he was traded for Alex Caruso last summer.
They did neither.
“There’s disappointment whenever you lose by such a big margin,” veteran center Nikola Vucevic said of the 145-117 laugher. “You never want to lose by 30 in a game and play the way we played, so sure there’s disappointment, but the in NBA you can’t be disappointed too long or happy too long. We’ve had a really good stretch and now we’ve lost two in-a-row and have to regroup.”
Quickly.
The loss dropped the Bulls to 33-42 on the year, but more importantly dropped them to the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference play-in seedings. Miami won so the Bulls are a game back with seven regular season games to play.
If there was any good news it was they at least had their fate delivered to them quickly. Not only did the Thunder (63-12) outscore them 29-18 in the first, but a 45-point second quarter by the home team all but put the game on ice.
A reminder of an elite team and a mediocre team, as well as an Oklahoma City team that does things quite easily on both ends and makes life appear very hard for the opposition.
“The shot blocking, the stealing, the fact that they take charges, right?” Donovan said of the elite defense the Thunder display. “When you try and score on the first action against a team like that, you’re just playing into their hands. That’s a team you’ve got to make two, three, four penetrations, kick, drive-kick, that’s how you have to play.”
The Bulls did little of that, as Giddey finished with 15 points and 10 assists in his return.
**Hurt-er**
Guard Kevin Huerter stayed back in Chicago on Monday, dealing with a right thumb sprain, but also just worn down with different ailments, according to Donovan.
“He’s just been dealing with stuff,” Donovan said. “He had a thing with his finger, and it’s been a bit of a problem. It’s probably more to protect that, some load management and some time, quite honestly. The hope is he’ll be back (Tuesday) night, but he’s been beat up. I think medical just felt it was good to rest him.”
**Inching closer**
Lonzo Ball did make the trip to Oklahoma City but still missed his 15th straight game with the injured right wrist.
If all goes well mid-week when the Bulls have some practice days available, the hope is Ball finally returns by Friday and can slowly build his minutes for the final stretch.
“We do have two practice days after (the back-to-back) so it would give us at least a chance to get him in some five-on-five stuff,” Donovan said. “But he’s still dealing with it, he’s doing more and more, but I think he would like to clean it up because I don’t think he feels totally comfortable shooting.”
**High praise**
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault had Caruso back in his G League days, so the fact that he now has a mature Caruso back with him this season, there has to be major differences, right?
“What’s the most impressive are the things that haven’t changed about him,” Daigneault said. “He’s eternally present in the game, he’s never distracted. He’s always about the team. He’s never focused on himself or how it’s going for him.”