Guerschon Iabusele shines in loss to Thunder

Deprived of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left to rest, c Thunder he didn’t deliver his cleanest match, but he still supported the hierarchy against Bulls (116-108). Gershon Yabusele is Chicago’s best player with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

The tone is set from the interval: clumsiness, missed layups, passes to the stands and forced shots are lined up. Both teams seem to lack pace. The Thunder, still without Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Hartenstein, are showing an unusually disorganized face.

Chicago, for its part, logically struggles to find fluidity against the Thunder’s outside defense. At the end of the first quarter, the two teams combined for an ugly 15/47 shooting, including 6/20 in the paint. In this chaotic context, the Bulls stay in touch (26-22).

Taking advantage of Hartenstein’s absence, Chicago’s interior is physically imposing. Guerschon Iabusele seems particularly aggressive. In the first half, the Frenchman scored 15 points and took 8 rebounds (6/11 shooting), multiplying initiatives, both outside and near the circle. Like this fierce dunk after a drive that started from the 3-point line. His activity allows the Bulls to stay in the matchup against the Thunder who are struggling to impose their rhythm. At the break, the Bulls were just one point behind (55-54).

One quarter is enough for Grom

The turning point comes at the start of the third quarter. Trailing 60-59, Oklahoma City went on a 14-3 run on Chet Holmgren’s dunk. Thunder accelerates, finally finds an address and makes better use of spaces. Jared McCain (20 points) and Aaron Wiggins (18 points) stepped up the attack and combined for 19 points in the third quarter. Jaylin Williams (17 points, 16 rebounds) dominates the rebounds, and OKC ends the period with an 8-2 run, including the game-winning shot by McCain, to fly away to 87-76.

As if the task wasn’t already difficult enough, Chicago lost Josh Giddy and Matas Bouzelis in quick succession, both victims of sprained ankles. Bouzelis won’t be back, heading straight to the locker room, while Giddy will make a brief attempt to return before exiting for good.

Despite everything, Taurus avoid correction. Nick Richards took over for Jabusele, and Colin Sexton made a three-pointer to get back to -6 in the last minute (112-106). But the Thunder controlled the final possession and won 116-108. Perfect before taking on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

OKC returns to the distance. The Thunder are not as great as at the start of the season, but the NBA champions sign their sixth win in seven matches. Which allows them to get three wins ahead of the Pistons, defeated by the Cavaliers, with two losses less than the Spurs.

Iabusele s’illustre. In Bulls small ball, Gershon Yabusele is very comfortable, and he has the best first half of his career with 15 points and 8 rebounds. He has never recorded as many shots in a half (11). He will be less dominant after the break, but his desire to play and his dynamism are contagious.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.