By Chad Waters
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort led a 22-point Thunder comeback against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. SGA scored a career-high 33 points to help Oklahoma City (6-6) defeat the Bulls (4-8) and former Thunder coach Billy Donovan 127-125 in overtime. The Thunder rallied from 22 points down in the second half, marking the 5th largest comeback victory in Thunder history. The franchise’s largest comeback also came against the Bulls when the Thunder came back from 26 points down to beat Chicago back in December 2019.
The Bulls led 78-56 with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter, but OKC responded with a 13-0 run to get back into single digits. Dort scored 15 points in a three-minute span to trim the deficit to as close as two points in the period. Chicago still entered the final quarter with a 95-87 lead.
SGA scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, tying the game with a difficult 3-point play with 16 seconds left to send it to overtime. Zach LaVine, who led the Bulls with 35 points, could have won it in regulation, but he missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds.
Mike Muscala knocked down two 3-pointers in overtime, continuing his streak of at least one made 3-point shot in every game this season. LaVine had another shot at winning it in overtime, again missing a deep, off-balance 3-pointer in the final seconds.
To go with his career-high 33 points, SGA finished with 10 assists, five rebounds while shooting 68 percent from the floor and 60 percent from 3-point range. Lu Dort added 21 points for the Thunder to go along with eight rebounds and six steals. Dort also knocked down four 3-pointers on 11 attempts, putting him at 46 percent on 61 attempts this season.
Al Horford sat out for personal reasons, missing the Thunder’s previous game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to rest on a back to back. Second-year center Isaiah Roby started in place of Horford, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
With the win, OKC claimed its first home victory in six tries this season. Next, the Thunder will face the Philadelphia 76ers (9-4) at home on Sunday night.
