The Oklahoma City Thunder were finally able to overcome their fourth quarter and overtime woes in a 123-119 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Entering the game, the Thunder were ranked 28th in net rating in the fourth quarter, being outscored by 12.9 points per 100 possessions. It felt like the Thunder were going to exorcise their fourth-quarter demons in the opening minutes of the final 12-minute frame.
The Thunder were up by 10 points with eight minutes remaining in the game. Then, just like a lot of Thunder games this season, the Bulls made their run to close the deficit.
In the final eight minutes of regulation, the Bulls finished on a 23-15 run to give the Thunder home crowd flashbacks to their last game. As soon as the Thunder lead felt comfortable, the Bulls were able to methodologically work their way back into the game.
Zach LaVine scored 12 points in the final 12 minutes of the game and was able to force overtime.
It was deja vu for Thunder fans this season: the young squad was able to surprisingly catch a team off guard and grow a lead before eventually squandering it late in the game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wouldn’t let that result in another loss though as he scored 11 of his 30 points in the final 17 minutes of the game. After not being able to score against the Denver Nuggets in their last overtime game, Gilgeous-Alexander was not going to repeat history.
The biggest moment of the game came with 27.1 seconds left in overtime.
After Gilgeous-Alexander was able to bait veteran DeMar DeRozan into fouling him from beyond the perimeter, he was able to hit all three free throws for the go-ahead points.
“When I seen the shot clock that low, I knew I was going to try to shoot a three, so I tried to set him up,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.
With MVP chants growing louder by the free-throw attempt, Gilgeous-Alexander was able to seal the deal at the charity stripe.
With the win, the Thunder were able to snap a three-game losing streak and give former head coach Billy Donovan a parting gift of another loss.
For the Bulls, their star trio led the way. DeRozan scored 30 points with half of those points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. LaVine scored 27 points. Nikola Vucevic finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Let’s take a look at Thunder player grades.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A
While it wasn’t his most dominant 30-point performance, it was still a 30-point performance for Gilgeous-Alexander.
The 24-year-old finished with 30 points on 8-of-21 shooting and shot 14-of-15 from the free-throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander also finished with eight rebounds and seven assists.
After scoring just four points in the fourth quarter and overtime in the Thunder’s OT loss to the Nuggets, Gilgeous-Alexander had a much better scoring outing with 11 points this time around in the same time period.
Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 30 points in 13 of his 18 games. He is tied with Luka Doncic for most 30-point performances this season.
SGA making this young fan's night was a wholesome moment 🥺 pic.twitter.com/EpuUHihEY8
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 26, 2022
"All guys are ready, and we're at our best when we do that."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checks in with Nick Gallo following the OT win over Chicago!@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/6O6WPL8wYJ
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) November 26, 2022
Y'all better get used to the MVP chants in OKC 😤@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/TJTDvze8eb
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) November 26, 2022
Middy game is next level pic.twitter.com/eXgGncarDv
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 26, 2022
Shai on DeMar 👀@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/DYzBd23uMp
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) November 26, 2022
SGA finds a way 😳 pic.twitter.com/Wgteu7Hk3E
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 26, 2022
Aleksej Pokusevski: B+
A third-quarter buzzer-beating three was the highlight of Aleksej Pokusevski’s night as he sent the crowd crazy into the fourth quarter.
Pokusevski finished with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, six rebounds and two assists.
While he didn’t exclusively match up against him, Pokusevski helped limit Vucevic to 13 points on 6-of-14 shooting and 13 rebounds.
Poku punches the pass into KRich for the slam!@OGandE Power Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/xkmaIJM7ad
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 26, 2022
POKU BEATS THE BUZZER 🚨@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/jRAuwN9tya
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) November 26, 2022
Poku dime to a slashing Josh Giddey pic.twitter.com/OIV6yaVyxF
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 26, 2022
Darius Bazley: A-
Darius Bazley usually brings it on the defensive end, but on Friday his offense showed out as well.
In 20 minutes, Bazley finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and also blocked two shots. When the Thunder needed offense off the bench, Bazley provided it in the win.
🅱ack-to-🅱ack for 🅱aze pic.twitter.com/ROTEBYJUIb
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 26, 2022
Josh Giddey: B+
While the shot didn’t fall, Josh Giddey was able to help out in other areas with 13 rebounds and nine assists.
On the scoreboard, Giddey finished with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
Giddey played the entire overtime and scored four of the Thunder’s 13 points in the five-minute session.
Giddey tip toes to the rim for the pretty finish pic.twitter.com/fFZa0RcooT
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 26, 2022
Giddey ropes it to JDub who gets crafty with the reverse 🔁 pic.twitter.com/iygkwdiVd1
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 26, 2022
