| Chi |
16 |
20 |
18 |
18 |
72 |
| Okc |
24 |
25 |
31 |
22 |
102 |
Date of game: 2/24/2013
|
Recap: Oklahoma City vs. Chicago
Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - The Oklahoma City Thunder finally clamped down defensively.
Russell Westbrook had 23 points in the Thunder's 102-72 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Oklahoma City had allowed at least 109 points in each of its last four contests when it went 1-3.
Kevin Durant registered 19 points, though on only 6-of-19 shooting, to go with 16 rebounds and six assists for the Thunder, who held the Bulls to a season- low 29.1 percent (25-of-86) from the floor.
"We made them miss tonight. We got a hand up, we clogged the paint. We just made the second and third efforts, and once we do that, we're a pretty good defensive team," Durant said.
Luol Deng and Nate Robinson both netted 13 points to lead Chicago, which has dropped six of its last nine tilts.
OKC took a 24-16 lead after one and a 49-36 advantage into the break, but blew the game open in the third.
The Thunder began the frame on a 12-3 run. Ibaka hit a 3-pointer to start the surge and capped it with a jumper for a 61-39 OKC edge. The Thunder led by as many as 29 near the latter stages of the period before taking a 80-54 cushion into the final frame.
The margin reached its apex at 32 in the fourth.
"The way we competed was just embarrassing," Bulls center Joakim Noah said.
Game NotesSerge Ibaka finished with 17 points and 10 boards for Oklahoma City ... The
Thunder shot 45.6 percent (36-of-79) from the field ... Chicago turned the
ball over 18 times, which led to 25 OKC points.
