Bulls-Thunder Preview

By BRETT HUSTON
Posted Oct 26 2010 5:53PM

The Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder were No. 8 seeds in last season's playoffs, where neither proved to be a pushover against their respective conference's top team.

Sneaking into the postseason isn't the goal this time.

An offseason of building around All-Star Derrick Rose has the Bulls looking like a Central Division contender heading into Wednesday night's opener in Oklahoma City, where the only significant change around scoring champion Kevin Durant is the Thunder's soaring expectations.

Oklahoma City (50-32) made an impressive jump from its first season after moving from Seattle, increasing its win total from 23 and securing the franchise's first playoff appearance since 2004-05.

That coincided with Durant's transition from young player on the rise to superstar. He averaged 30.1 points to win the scoring title, finished second behind LeBron James in the MVP voting and led his team to within a last-second tip-in of forcing a Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.

"I think we have confidence but we still know that last year is over with," said Durant, who announced via Twitter that he signed a five-year, $86 million extension July 7.

"We know that we had a good year, we made it to the playoffs, but this year we know that we've got to start back at square one. We've got to work hard every day to get better, continue to fight every day and work together as a team and continue to be one group."

Durant was held to 25.0 points per game and 35.0 percent shooting against the Lakers, but had an offseason to envy. He led the United States to its first gold medal at the world championships since 1994, winning tournament MVP honors after averaging 22.8 points.

Durant's Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook averaged 9.1 points during the tournament, and looks poised to build on a season in which he averaged 16.1 points and 8.0 assists in starting all 82 games.

Westbrook and small forward Jeff Green give Durant some excellent secondary threats, while general manager Sam Presti's quiet offseason saw him beef up his backcourt depth by adding Daequan Cook, Morris Peterson and Royal Ivey.

The Thunder added Kansas center Cole Aldrich in a draft-day trade as well, but Coach of the Year Scott Brooks knows his team's chances of making a leap in the Western Conference start and end with Durant.

"He really thinks of himself as a guy that just has to work extremely hard to make a team," Brooks said. "He has that mentality, and that's what champions are made of."

Joining Durant and Westbrook on the gold-medal team was Rose, who made a big leap last season by increasing his scoring average from 16.8 to 20.8.

For the second straight season, though, the Bulls (41-41) finished with as many losses as wins. After giving Boston a huge scare in the first round of the 2009 playoffs, they were competitive but only managed to take one game from top-seeded Cleveland despite Rose averaging 26.8 points.

Getting rid of oft-criticized coach Vinny Del Negro and hiring Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau was only the beginning of a busy offseason. Chicago didn't land James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh, but signed eight other free agents to overhaul the team around Rose and Joakim Noah, who signed an extension in early October.

The biggest addition was power forward Carlos Boozer, and the Bulls weren't done raiding Utah's roster. Chicago also signed Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver before rounding out its roster with guards C.J. Watson and Keith Bogans, forwards Brian Scalabrine, Kurt Thomas and Turkish center Omer Asik.

"It (is) exciting that the new players are good players," Rose said. "They're not selfish. They can definitely help my game. They're older than I am, so they know the NBA game better than me."

Thibodeau should help as well. The assistant was coach Doc Rivers' defensive guru in Boston, and having the disruptive Noah in the middle is a good place to start.

Rose will be joined by Bogans in the starting backcourt with Luol Deng at small forward, but Boozer won't be joining Noah in the frontcourt for a while. The two-time All-Star tripped over a bag and broke a bone in his right hand earlier this month, an injury that's expected to keep him out until December.

Taj Gibson, who averaged 9.0 points and 7.5 rebounds as a rookie, will start in his place.

"You hate to lose a guy like that, but it's also part of the NBA," Thibodeau said. "You have injuries, but we have good depth."

The teams split four meetings the past two seasons, with the road team winning each time. Rose averaged 25.5 points in the two victories at Oklahoma City.

Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Durant's 30 help Thunder put Bulls away 106-95

By JEFF LATZKE
Posted Oct 28 2010 12:09AM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Lying flat on his back and writhing in pain, Kevin Durant gave Oklahoma City its first big scare of the season. By the time the game was on the line, he and Russell Westbrook were soaring high again and leading the Thunder to victory.

Durant scored 30 points, Russell Westbrook added 28 points and 10 rebounds and Oklahoma City beat the new-look Chicago Bulls 106-95 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

"It's big. Of course, it's just one out of 82, and we'll see how it goes," said Thabo Sefolosha, who had two key blocks and clamped down on Derrick Rose down the stretch. "But that definitely gives us confidence. Especially winning it this way, with the defense, I think that's big for us."

After being one of the league's worst teams two seasons ago, the Thunder preached defense all last season on the way to the playoffs. It kicked in again in the final few minutes, spurring a late 11-0 run that put the game away.

Durant and Westbrook each powered down two-handed dunks during the surge and Jeff Green hit a 3-pointer that extended Oklahoma City's lead to 104-91 with 1:29 remaining.

Sefolosha blocked shots by Rose and Luol Deng that could have tied it up in the final 5 minutes, and Serge Ibaka swatted another Rose shot that led to Westbrook's fast-break dunk that turned into a three-point. Durant followed by blowing past Deng on the next possession for his own dunk.

"We're a defensive team. That comes first, and defense is going to lead to offense," Durant said. "That's the only thing we was worrying about in the fourth quarter was playing defense, and we did a good job of getting stops. That made it easier for us on the offensive end."

Rose scored 28 points to lead the Bulls in Tom Thibodeau's debut as head coach. He had only four points in the final 21 minutes, his hot start cooled off by foul trouble.

Free agent acquisition Carlos Boozer sported a cast on his broken right hand, but the rest of the Bulls' overhauled roster kept it close throughout. Neither team led by more than eight until the Thunder's final spurt.

The Bulls missed three shots on the same possession - including Sefolosha's block of a fast-break layup by Rose - and then got a third offensive rebound before calling timeout with 11 seconds left on the shot clock. They couldn't get a potential tying shot off before the buzzer.

"You can't have blown sets in the fourth quarter," Thibodeau said. "I think that's where you have to be at your best. You have to be able to execute under pressure, and we'll do better. We have to do better."

Chicago brought in eight new players after making it to the playoffs for the fifth time in six season, while Daequan Cook was the only newcomer to get on the floor for Oklahoma City following its first playoff berth since 2005.

"A big part of it is we were fouling so much that we didn't get a chance to maintain our tempo," Thibodeau said. "Particularly in the fourth quarter, if you're making them miss, now you can get out into the open floor. That's when Derrick's at his best. He's very difficult to guard like that."

Oklahoma City shot and made 25 more free throws than Chicago, finishing 38-for-47. Durant and Westbrook were a combined 23 for 26.

"It's all about us being aggressive," Durant said. "We're an aggressive, athletic, quick team and getting to the rim is one of our strong points. We've got to continue to get there."

The Thunder got a brief scare at the end of the third quarter when Durant fell hard on his rear end after being called for charging into Chicago's Ronnie Brewer. He stayed down for a few moments before hobbling off the court. Trainers stretched his legs during the break between the quarters and then had him sit on an ice pack. Durant walked to the scorer's table to check into the game with only 3 minutes elapsed in the fourth quarter.

It wasn't long before he got fouled on the fast break and hit a pair of free throws to put Oklahoma City up 88-87, and the Thunder wouldn't trail again.

Jeff Green added 21 points and Eric Maynor scored 10 on a perfect shooting night - 3 for 3 from the field and 4 for 4 on free throws.

Joakim Noah had 19 points and 18 rebounds, Taj Gibson added 16 points and 11 rebounds and Deng scored 13 for Chicago.

Rose hit consecutive reverse layups in the midst of five made shots in a row before heading to the bench with two first-quarter fouls. When Rose returned, he immediately started digging the Bulls out of an eight-point hole and put them back ahead 46-45 with a pair of free throws he earned by getting fouled on another reverse layup try.

He was just 4 for 16 in the second half.

"Even though he had a lot of points tonight, I think we did a good job pretty much isolating him from the rest of his teammates," Sefolosha said. "That was good. He was kind of on an island out there when he was playing."

NOTES: Thunder F Nick Collison missed the game with a stress reaction in his left knee. C Byron Mullens and G Morris Peterson, acquired in a draft night trade, were also inactive. ... Chicago's jerseys have a patch on the right shoulder commemorating the 20th anniversary of the team's first NBA title. ... Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks was happy to see Thibodeau get his shot as a head coach but not so fond of one experience playing under his tutelage with the New York Knicks during the 1996-97 season. "He was a jerk. I was like in my ninth year in the league and he put me with three rookies. I had to get there early at 4 o'clock and work out with the three rookies because he wanted me to set an example," Brooks said. "I didn't appreciate that."

Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Bulls-Thunder notebook

By Randy Renner, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday October 27, 2010 11:50PM

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 58 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the visiting Chicago Bulls 106-95. Durant scored 30 points, his average from last season, and Westbrook netted 28 points along with 10 rebounds and six assists. Bulls guard Derrick Rose led Chicago with 28 points. Bulls center Joakim Noah added 18 points and pulled down 19 rebounds.

"Our 4th quarter defense, I just couldn't ask for better. It's the best we've played in month."

-- Thunder coach Scott Brooks

The Thunder defense held the Bulls to just 25 percent shooting in the fourth quarter. Chicago turned the ball over four times in the last 12 minutes and OKC blocked four shots.

With 5:49 left in the game, Bulls guard Kyle Korver hit an 18-foot jumper. From that point on Chicago hit just 1 of 9 shots and turned the ball over three times, spurring OKC to a 14-2 run and the win.

"Some good things and bad things tonight but the biggest thing was the fourth quarter. We have to execute better. We have to play hard defense without fouling."

-- Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau

In the fourth quarter, Durant and Westbrook combined for 14 of the Thunder's 24 points.

Also in the fourth quarter, Rose and Noah combined for just six points on 3-for-12 shooting.

Westbrook filled up the stat sheet with 28 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one blocked shot.

A festive atmosphere on opening night. Among the faces in the crowd, rock star Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips and Oklahoma governor Brad Henry.

Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha managed only one point but he blocked four shots, grabbed four rebounds, dished out four assists and stole the ball twice.

For the Bulls, Saturday vs Pistons, Monday vs Trail Blazers, Thursday vs Knicks. For the Thunder, Friday @ Detroit, Sunday vs. Jazz, Wednesday @ LA Clippers.

• Bulls: Boozer
• Thunder: Collison, Mullens, Peterson

• Bulls: --
• Thunder: --

• Lead Changes: 19
• Times Tied: 12

• Arena: Oklahoma City Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
• Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #61 Courtney Kirkland, #70 Brent Barnaky
• Attendance: 18203
• Duration: 2:40

Chicago Bulls (0-1)		Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Krstic vs Noah (Gibson gains possession)
Gibson Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:40 [CHI 2-0]
	11:26	Green Layup Shot: Missed
Rose Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:25
Rose 3pt Shot: Missed	11:13
	11:13	Sefolosha Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:57	Sefolosha 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:56
Deng Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Rose (1 AST)	10:42 [CHI 4-0]
	10:29 [OKC 3-4]	Durant 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Westbrook (1 AST)
	10:15	Green Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Deng Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	10:15
Team Rebound	10:15
Deng Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	10:15
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	10:14
Deng Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Sefolosha (1 ST)	10:00
	09:54 [OKC 5-4]	Westbrook Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Durant (1 AST)
Gibson Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Rose (2 AST)	09:48 [CHI 6-5]
	09:35	Westbrook Jump Shot: Missed Block: Rose (1 BLK)
Bogans Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:34
Bogans Jump Shot: Missed Block: Green (1 BLK)	09:33
Team Rebound	09:33
Deng Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Gibson (1 AST)	09:27 [CHI 8-5]
	09:12	Krstic Jump Shot: Missed
Bogans Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	09:11
Rose Jump Shot: Missed	09:03
	09:02	Westbrook Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	08:59 [OKC 7-8]	Durant Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Westbrook (2 AST)
Bogans Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:59
	08:59 [OKC 8-8]	Durant Free Throw 1 of 1 (6 PTS)
Rose Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	08:49 [CHI 10-8]
	08:21 [OKC 10-10]	Westbrook Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Sefolosha (1 AST)
Rose Reverse Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Gibson (2 AST)	08:08 [CHI 12-10]
	07:50	Sefolosha Jump Shot: Missed
	07:48	Durant Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	07:48	Durant Tip Shot: Missed
Deng Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	07:46
Gibson Layup Shot: Missed Block: Sefolosha (1 BLK)	07:42
Bogans Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	07:39
Rose Driving Jump shot: Made (6 PTS)	07:27 [CHI 14-10]
	07:11	Westbrook Jump Shot: Missed
	07:09	Krstic Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
Rose Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	07:07
	07:07 [OKC 11-14]	Westbrook Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)
	07:07 [OKC 12-14]	Westbrook Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)
Rose Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (8 PTS)	06:51 [CHI 16-12]
	06:38 [OKC 14-16]	Durant Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Westbrook (3 AST)
Gibson Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Rose (3 AST)	06:25 [CHI 18-14]
	06:15	Team Timeout : Regular
Gibson Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	06:11
	06:11 [OKC 15-18]	Westbrook Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)
	06:11	Westbrook Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	06:10
Noah Layup Shot: Missed	05:55
	05:54	Krstic Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	05:49	Durant Layup Shot: Missed Block: Deng (1 BLK)
	05:46	Westbrook Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	05:44	Durant Fade Away Jumper Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	05:42
	05:39	Krstic Substitution replaced by Ibaka
	05:29	Sefolosha Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Deng Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	05:29 [CHI 19-15]
Deng Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	05:29
	05:29	Westbrook Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	05:23	Durant Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
Deng 3pt Shot: Missed	05:07
	05:06	Ibaka Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	04:49 [OKC 17-19]	Green Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Rose Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)	04:27 [CHI 21-17]
	04:14	Westbrook Layup Shot: Missed
	04:13	Ibaka Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Rose Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	04:13
	04:13 [OKC 18-21]	Ibaka Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	04:13	Sefolosha Substitution replaced by Harden
Rose Substitution replaced by Watson	04:13
Bogans Substitution replaced by Brewer	04:13
	04:13 [OKC 19-21]	Ibaka Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Deng Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Green (1 ST)	03:56
	03:51 [OKC 21-21]	Ibaka Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Durant (2 AST)
Brewer Jump Shot: Missed	03:35
	03:33	Westbrook Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	03:28 [OKC 23-21]	Westbrook Slam Dunk Shot: Made (9 PTS)
Noah Layup Shot: Missed Block: Ibaka (1 BLK)	03:10
	03:08	Ibaka Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	02:56	Ibaka Jump Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	02:55
Deng Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Watson (1 AST)	02:50 [CHI 23-23]
	02:29	Green 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	02:29
Noah Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Brewer (1 AST)	02:15 [CHI 25-23]
Deng Foul : Personal (1 PF)	02:04
Team Timeout : Regular	02:04
	02:04	Green Substitution replaced by Cook
Noah Substitution replaced by Thomas	02:04
	02:04	Westbrook Substitution replaced by Maynor
	02:04 [OKC 24-25]	Durant Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
	02:04 [OKC 25-25]	Durant Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Gibson Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Harden (1 ST)	01:52
Thomas Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	01:36
	01:36 [OKC 26-25]	Ibaka Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)
	01:36 [OKC 27-25]	Ibaka Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)
Brewer Reverse Layup Shot: Missed	01:18
	01:17	Ibaka Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	00:57.6 [OKC 29-25]	Durant Driving Slam Dunk Shot: Made (12 PTS)
Deng Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Harden (2 ST)	00:41.9
Watson Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	00:35.1
	00:35.1	Harden Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:35.1	Team Rebound
Gibson Substitution replaced by Bogans	00:35.1
	00:35.1 [OKC 30-25]	Harden Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)
Deng Floating Jump shot: Missed	00:23.9
	00:22.9	Harden Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	00:03.9	Cook 3pt Shot: Missed
Brewer Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:02.6
Brewer 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.0
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 1st Quarter
Chicago Bulls (0-1)		Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
	11:44	Harden 3pt Shot: Missed
Korver Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:43
Brewer Layup Shot: Missed	11:24
	11:23	Cook Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Thomas Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	11:06
	11:06	Durant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	11:06	Team Rebound
Thomas Substitution replaced by Asik	11:06
	11:06 [OKC 31-25]	Durant Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)
Watson Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:57 [CHI 27-31]
	10:44	Durant 3pt Shot: Missed
Brewer Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	10:43
Watson Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)	10:36 [CHI 29-31]
	10:21 [OKC 33-29]	Maynor Floating Jump shot: Made (2 PTS)
Brewer Jump Shot: Missed	10:09
	10:09	Maynor Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:02 [OKC 35-29]	Maynor Floating Jump shot: Made (4 PTS)
Watson Step Back Jump shot: Made (6 PTS)	09:48 [CHI 31-35]
	09:29 [OKC 37-31]	Durant Jump Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Maynor (1 AST)
Watson Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)	09:20
	09:20	Durant Substitution replaced by Green
Brewer Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	09:02
	09:02	Green Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	09:02	Team Rebound
Brewer Substitution replaced by Gibson	09:02
	09:02	Green Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	09:02
Gibson Jump Shot: Missed	08:50
	08:49	Harden Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	08:45 [OKC 39-31]	Green Slam Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Harden (1 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	08:35
Watson Substitution replaced by Rose	08:35
Asik Substitution replaced by Noah	08:35
Noah Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Bogans (1 AST)	08:25 [CHI 33-39]
	08:02	Cook 3pt Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	08:01
Rose Driving Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS)	07:45 [CHI 35-39]
Gibson Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	07:27
	07:27 [OKC 40-35]	Green Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)
	07:27 [OKC 41-35]	Green Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)
Gibson Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Korver (1 AST)	07:08 [CHI 37-41]
	06:51	Green Jump Shot: Missed Block: Bogans (1 BLK)
	06:51	Team Rebound
	06:51	Maynor Substitution replaced by Westbrook
	06:48 [OKC 43-37]	Harden Jump Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Cook (1 AST)
Korver Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Bogans (2 AST)	06:34 [CHI 39-43]
	06:15	Cook 3pt Shot: Missed
Bogans Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	06:14
Bogans 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Rose (4 AST)	06:06 [CHI 42-43]
	05:59	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:58	Cook Substitution replaced by Durant
	05:50	Durant Jump Shot: Missed
	05:49	Westbrook Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
	05:45 [OKC 45-42]	Westbrook Jump Bank Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Korver Jump Shot: Missed	05:31
	05:29	Westbrook Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
	05:24	Westbrook Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	05:24	Westbrook Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Rose Step Back Jump shot: Missed	05:11
	05:10	Westbrook Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
Gibson Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	04:56
Korver Substitution replaced by Deng	04:56
	04:56	Ibaka Substitution replaced by Krstic
	04:56	Green Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	04:56	Team Rebound
Gibson Substitution replaced by Scalabrine	04:56
	04:56	Green Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	04:55
	04:39	Krstic Foul : Personal Block (1 PF)
Noah Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	04:39 [CHI 43-45]
Noah Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)	04:39 [CHI 44-45]
	04:26	Durant Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Noah (1 ST)
	04:18	Krstic Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Rose Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)	04:18 [CHI 45-45]
	04:18	Harden Substitution replaced by Sefolosha
Rose Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)	04:18 [CHI 46-45]
	04:04	Green Jump Shot: Missed
Rose Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	04:02
Rose Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Bogans (3 AST)	03:57 [CHI 48-45]
	03:36	Durant Step Back Jump shot: Missed
	03:35	Westbrook Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)
	03:33 [OKC 47-48]	Westbrook Driving Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS)
Rose Layup Shot: Missed	03:16
Noah Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	03:15
Noah Tip Shot: Made (8 PTS)	03:15 [CHI 50-47]
	03:00	Westbrook Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Noah (2 ST)
Noah Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Krstic (1 ST)	02:45
	02:38 [OKC 49-50]	Green Reverse Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Sefolosha (2 AST)
Scalabrine Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	02:38
	02:38
	02:38 [OKC 50-50]	Green Free Throw 1 of 1 (9 PTS)
Deng Jump Shot: Missed	02:19
	02:17	Krstic Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	02:03	Sefolosha Layup Shot: Missed
	02:01	Sefolosha Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	01:57 [OKC 53-50]	Green 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Sefolosha (3 AST)
Rose Jump Shot: Missed	01:45
	01:44	Durant Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	01:34 [OKC 55-50]	Krstic Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Durant (3 AST)
	01:16	Green Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Rose Free Throw 1 of 2 (17 PTS)	01:16 [CHI 51-55]
Rose Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)	01:16 [CHI 52-55]
	00:59.9	Green Jump Shot: Missed
	00:58.9	Green Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	00:57.0 [OKC 57-52]	Green Hook Shot: Made (14 PTS)
Rose Floating Jump shot: Made (20 PTS)	00:52.9 [CHI 54-57]
	00:38.9	Durant Jump Shot: Missed
	00:37.8	Team Rebound
Scalabrine Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)	00:37.8
	00:37.8	Krstic Substitution replaced by Ibaka
	00:37.8 [OKC 58-54]	Green Free Throw 1 of 2 (15 PTS)
	00:37.8 [OKC 59-54]	Green Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS)
Rose Jump Shot: Missed Block: Ibaka (2 BLK)	00:27.9
	00:24.9	Durant Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	00:05.8	Durant Foul : Offensive Charge (1 PF)
	00:05.8	Durant Turnover : Foul (3 TO)
	00:05.8	Green Substitution replaced by Harden
Team Timeout : Short	00:05.8
Rose 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.0
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 2nd Quarter
Chicago Bulls (0-1)		Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
	11:47	Durant Jump Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	11:46
Rose Jump Shot: Made (22 PTS)	11:30 [CHI 56-59]
	11:05	Green Jump Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)	11:03
Rose Jump Shot: Missed Block: Westbrook (1 BLK)	10:55
Team Rebound	10:55
Gibson Dunk Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Noah (1 AST)	10:51 [CHI 58-59]
	10:24	Krstic Hook Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	10:22
Rose Jump Shot: Missed	10:12
Noah Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)	10:11
Noah Layup Shot: Missed Block: Sefolosha (2 BLK)	10:10
Gibson Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)	10:09
Gibson Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS)	10:06 [CHI 60-59]
	09:50	Durant Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO) Steal:Bogans (1 ST)
Rose Jump Shot: Made (24 PTS)	09:43 [CHI 62-59]
	09:18	Westbrook 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)	09:17
Rose 3pt Shot: Missed	09:03
	09:02	Durant Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	08:54	Durant Floating Jump shot: Missed
Bogans Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	08:53
Rose Jump Shot: Missed	08:46
Noah Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)	08:45
Noah Tip Shot: Missed	08:45
	08:42	Green Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Rose Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	08:34
	08:34 [OKC 60-62]	Westbrook Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)
	08:34 [OKC 61-62]	Westbrook Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)
Noah Jump Shot: Missed	08:22
	08:21	Westbrook Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)
	08:16 [OKC 63-62]	Westbrook Jump Shot: Made (17 PTS)
	07:55	Westbrook Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Noah Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	07:55
Team Rebound	07:55
Noah Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	07:55
	07:54	Sefolosha Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
Deng Foul : Personal (2 PF)	07:44
	07:39	Durant Jump Shot: Missed
Bogans Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	07:38
Bogans Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Westbrook (1 ST)	07:29
Rose Foul : Personal (4 PF)	07:28
Rose Substitution replaced by Watson	07:28
	07:22	Green Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Deng 3pt Shot: Missed	07:02
Bogans Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)	07:00
Bogans Jump Shot: Missed	06:59
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:7)	06:58
Noah Tip Shot: Made (10 PTS)	06:58 [CHI 64-63]
	06:44	Durant Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO) Steal:Gibson (1 ST)
Gibson Dunk Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Noah (2 AST)	06:40 [CHI 66-63]
	06:31	Team Timeout : Regular
	06:30	Krstic Substitution replaced by Ibaka
Watson Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	06:22
	06:22 [OKC 64-66]	Westbrook Free Throw 1 of 2 (18 PTS)
	06:22 [OKC 65-66]	Westbrook Free Throw 2 of 2 (19 PTS)
Noah Hook Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Bogans (4 AST)	06:04 [CHI 68-65]
	05:50 [OKC 67-68]	Green Jump Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Westbrook (4 AST)
Deng Running Jump Shot: Missed	05:34
	05:32	Ibaka Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	05:17	Green 3pt Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)	05:16
Deng 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Watson (2 AST)	04:59 [CHI 71-67]
Bogans Foul : Personal (2 PF)	04:47
Gibson Substitution replaced by Scalabrine	04:47
	04:47	Sefolosha Substitution replaced by Harden
	04:47 [OKC 68-71]	Durant Free Throw 1 of 2 (16 PTS)
	04:47 [OKC 69-71]	Durant Free Throw 2 of 2 (17 PTS)
Deng Step Back Jump shot: Missed	04:29
	04:28	Westbrook Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)
	04:20	Durant Layup Shot: Missed Block: Noah (1 BLK)
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:8)	04:18
	04:14	Harden Foul : Personal Block (1 PF)
Deng Free Throw 1 of 2 (11 PTS)	04:14 [CHI 72-69]
Deng Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	04:14
Watson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	04:13
Watson 3pt Shot: Missed	04:07
	04:06	Green Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	03:51 [OKC 71-72]	Durant Jump Shot: Made (19 PTS)
Noah Dunk Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Scalabrine (1 AST)	03:31 [CHI 74-71]
Noah Foul : Personal Block (1 PF)	03:18
	03:18 [OKC 72-74]	Westbrook Free Throw 1 of 2 (20 PTS)
	03:18	Green Substitution replaced by Cook
	03:18 [OKC 73-74]	Westbrook Free Throw 2 of 2 (21 PTS)
Watson Step Back Jump shot: Missed	03:07
Watson Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	03:05
Deng Dunk Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Watson (3 AST)	03:02 [CHI 76-73]
	02:45	Westbrook Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Noah (2 BLK)
	02:45	Team Rebound
Team Timeout : Regular	02:45
Scalabrine Substitution replaced by Brewer	02:45
	02:45	Westbrook Substitution replaced by Maynor
	02:36	Durant 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:9)	02:35
Deng Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO) Steal:Durant (1 ST)	02:20
	02:17 [OKC 75-76]	Durant Dunk Shot: Made (21 PTS)
	01:54	Ibaka Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Noah Free Throw 1 of 2 (15 PTS)	01:54 [CHI 77-75]
Noah Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS)	01:54 [CHI 78-75]
Noah Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	01:37
	01:37 [OKC 76-78]	Durant Free Throw 1 of 2 (22 PTS)
	01:37 [OKC 77-78]	Durant Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
Watson Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Durant (2 ST)	01:25
	01:18	Durant 3pt Shot: Missed
Deng Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	01:17
Watson Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Durant (3 ST)	01:11
Deng Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	01:07
	01:07 [OKC 78-78]	Maynor Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)
	01:07 [OKC 79-78]	Maynor Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)
	00:48.4	Durant Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Brewer Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)	00:48.4 [CHI 79-79]
Brewer Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)	00:48.4 [CHI 80-79]
	00:24.2 [OKC 82-80]	Harden 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Cook (2 AST)
Watson Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS)	00:09.6 [CHI 82-82]
	00:00.8	Durant Foul : Offensive Charge (3 PF)
	00:00.8	Durant Turnover : Foul (6 TO)
	00:00.8	Durant Substitution replaced by Green
Watson 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.4
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 3rd Quarter
Chicago Bulls (0-1)		Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
Bogans 3pt Shot: Missed	11:43
	11:42	Ibaka Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	11:31	Ibaka Foul : Offensive (2 PF)
	11:31	Ibaka Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Watson Jump Shot: Missed	11:16
	11:15	Ibaka Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
	10:57	Ibaka Layup Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:4 Def:10)	10:55
	10:50	Ibaka Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Brewer Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	10:50
Team Rebound	10:50
Deng Substitution replaced by Gibson	10:50
Brewer Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)	10:50 [CHI 83-82]
Brewer Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	10:35
	10:35 [OKC 83-83]	Maynor Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)
	10:35 [OKC 84-83]	Maynor Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)
Noah Foul : Offensive (3 PF)	10:25
Noah Turnover : Foul (2 TO)	10:25
Noah Substitution replaced by Scalabrine	10:25
Watson Substitution replaced by Rose	10:25
	10:11	Harden Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Gibson (2 ST)
Gibson Jump Shot: Missed	10:02
	10:01	Harden Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	09:40	Green Step Back Jump shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)	09:38
Scalabrine Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Rose (5 AST)	09:22 [CHI 85-84]
	09:05 [OKC 86-85]	Maynor Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Rose Floating Jump shot: Missed	08:47
Rose Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	08:46
Rose Jump Shot: Missed Block: Ibaka (3 BLK)	08:44
	08:41	Harden Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	08:33	Harden Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	08:33
	08:33
Bogans Substitution replaced by Korver	08:33
	08:33	Harden Substitution replaced by Westbrook
	08:33	Maynor Substitution replaced by Durant
Rose Jump Shot: Made (26 PTS)	08:12 [CHI 87-86]
	07:56	Westbrook Jump Shot: Missed Block: Korver (1 BLK)
Brewer Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	07:54
	07:47	Ibaka Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Gibson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	07:47
Team Rebound	07:47
Gibson Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	07:47
	07:46	Green Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	07:25	Green Jump Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:2 Def:8)	07:24
Rose Step Back Jump shot: Missed	07:14
	07:13	Durant Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	06:58	Durant Jump Shot: Missed
Scalabrine Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	06:56
Brewer Driving Layup Shot: Missed	06:52
	06:50	Cook Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Gibson Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	06:46
	06:46 [OKC 87-87]	Durant Free Throw 1 of 2 (24 PTS)
Scalabrine Substitution replaced by Noah	06:46
Brewer Substitution replaced by Deng	06:46
	06:46 [OKC 88-87]	Durant Free Throw 2 of 2 (25 PTS)
Rose Floating Jump shot: Missed	06:32
	06:31	Durant Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	06:13	Cook 3pt Shot: Missed
	06:12	Ibaka Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
Deng Violation:Defensive Goaltending	06:09
	06:09 [OKC 90-87]	Ibaka Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Korver Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Rose (6 AST)	05:49 [CHI 89-90]
	05:39	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:39	Cook Substitution replaced by Sefolosha
Deng Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	05:33
	05:33	Durant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	05:33	Team Rebound
	05:33 [OKC 91-89]	Durant Free Throw 2 of 2 (26 PTS)
Rose Floating Jump shot: Missed	05:08
	05:07	Ibaka Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)
	04:58	Green 3pt Shot: Missed
Rose Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	04:57
Rose Layup Shot: Missed Block: Sefolosha (3 BLK)	04:53
Team Rebound	04:53
Korver Jump Shot: Missed	04:51
Noah Rebound (Off:5 Def:10)	04:49
Rose 3pt Shot: Missed	04:45
Noah Rebound (Off:6 Def:10)	04:43
Team Timeout : Regular	04:30
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	04:19
	04:10	Westbrook Driving Jump shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:6 Def:11)	04:08
Deng Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Sefolosha (4 BLK)	04:05
	04:05	Team Rebound
	03:51 [OKC 93-89]	Durant Jump Shot: Made (28 PTS) Assist: Westbrook (5 AST)
Rose Jump Shot: Made (28 PTS)	03:26 [CHI 91-93]
Korver Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	03:09
	03:09 [OKC 94-91]	Westbrook Free Throw 1 of 2 (22 PTS)
	03:09 [OKC 95-91]	Westbrook Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
Gibson Turnover : Traveling (2 TO)	02:59
	02:49	Durant 3pt Shot: Missed
Noah Rebound (Off:6 Def:12)	02:48
Rose Layup Shot: Missed Block: Ibaka (4 BLK)	02:39
	02:37	Durant Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
	02:32 [OKC 97-91]	Westbrook Dunk Shot: Made (25 PTS) Assist: Sefolosha (4 AST)
Korver Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	02:32
	02:32 [OKC 98-91]	Westbrook Free Throw 1 of 1 (26 PTS)
Gibson Jump Shot: Missed	02:16
Noah Rebound (Off:7 Def:12)	02:14
Noah Tip Shot: Missed	02:14
	02:13	Sefolosha Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	01:58 [OKC 100-91]	Durant Driving Dunk Shot: Made (30 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	01:57
Rose Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Sefolosha (2 ST)	01:50
Korver Foul : Clear Path (3 PF)	01:50
	01:50	Sefolosha Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	01:50	Team Rebound
	01:50 [OKC 101-91]	Sefolosha Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)
	01:29 [OKC 104-91]	Green 3pt Shot: Made (21 PTS) Assist: Westbrook (6 AST)
Gibson Dunk Shot: Made (16 PTS)	01:12 [CHI 93-104]
	00:49.5 [OKC 106-93]	Westbrook Jump Shot: Made (28 PTS)
Team Timeout : Short	00:49.5
Rose Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Westbrook (2 ST)	00:44.9
	00:42.9	Westbrook Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Korver (1 ST)
Noah Dunk Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Korver (2 AST)	00:41.5 [CHI 95-106]
	00:16.9	Ibaka Jump Shot: Missed
Gibson Rebound (Off:2 Def:9)	00:15.9
Deng 3pt Shot: Missed	00:09.9
Korver Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	00:08.9
Korver 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.0
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa			ESPN	National	8:00 pm ET
		--	WGN	Local	8:00 pm ET
		--	FSOK	Local	8:00 pm ET