Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: United Center (Chicago, IL)
Television: FSOK
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
Last night, the Thunder dropped another heartbreaker to the Timberwolves in Minnesota, and fans are starting to wonder what the problem is, and what is it going to take to fix it? Issues were bound to come up as new faces adjust to playing alongside one another, but zeroing in on those issues is key moving forward.
There were a number of problems down the stretch last night, but perhaps the most curious one was who was taking the shots at the end of the game. On multiple possessions, Russell Westbrook deferred to his teammates to score, which is what you want out of a point guard, but at the same time, you want one of the best players in clutch time to play his game and make things happen.
Tonight, Oklahoma City will look to rebound against a struggling Bulls squad in Chicago. The Bulls are 1-3 so far this season, but perhaps most of the focus around this team has been on the physical altercation that occurred between Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic two weeks ago. The result of the fight was an eight-game suspension for Portis, and Mirotic is out indefinitely after sustaining a concussion and a broken jaw.
Both of these teams appear to be having chemistry issues, but the Thunder undoubtedly have a much better opportunity to resolve theirs, and they will look to make some progress tonight.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Andre Roberson
- SF: Paul George
- PF: Carmelo Anthony
- C: Steven Adams
Bulls
- PG: Jerian Grant
- SG: Justin Holiday
- SF: Denzel Valentine
- PF: Lauri Markkanen
- C: Robin Lopez
Injuries
Thunder
- None
Bulls
- Zach Lavine (torn left ACL) is out.
- Nikola Mirotic (concussion, maxillary fractures) is out.
- Cameron Payne (right foot) is out.
- Bobby Portis (team suspension) is out.
- Kris Dunn (left finger dislocation) is questionable.
- Paul Zipser (right knee contusion) is questionable.
Head-to-Head
- In nine seasons in Oklahoma City, the Thunder are 10-7 against the Bulls (5-4 at home, 3-4 away).
- The Thunder have lost three of the last four games to the Bulls.
- In nine seasons, the Thunder have won the season series with the Bulls three times, lost it once, and tied five times.
- The Thunder experienced their worst loss to Chicago last season in Oklahoma City on February 1, 2017. The Thunder lost by 28 points by a score of 100-128.
- The Thunder and Bulls will meet again in a couple of weeks on November 15th in Oklahoma City.
Game Notes
- Thunder forward Jerami Grant and Bulls guard Jerian Grant are brothers.
- Thunder forward Josh Huestis made his 2016-17 season debut against the Bulls on February 1.
- Thunder center Steven Adams made a career-high 11 field goals against the Bulls in Chicago on January 9, 2017.
- Bulls starting center Lauri Markkanen could be considered a dark horse for Rookie of the Year. Among rookies, he ranks second in points per game, tied for first in rebounds per game, 10th in three-point percent, 10th in free throw percent, and third in minutes per game.
- The Bulls have 9 new faces on their roster this season.
- The Bulls have the youngest team in the league with an average age of 24.50 years.
Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter and Instagram.