Gameday Preview: OKC Thunder seek sweep on road with Bulls final target
The OKC Thunder look to sweep a mini eastern road trip as they face the Chicago Bulls. Game day preview breaks it down.
Entering this evening’s game the OKC Thunder are riding a high having overcome a 23 point deficit in Brooklyn, are on a four game win streak and feeling their oats.
A win would move the Thunder to 14-0 against sub .500 teams a feat no other NBA squad has accomplished (as per Brett Dawson). That may seem menial (and in fairness when the Pelicans beat the Raptors they were sitting firmly in the top of the West), but given how tightly bunched the West is these games matter.
Arguably, no one team understands this dynamic better than the OKC Thunder who put themselves in hot water last season via losses to the sub .500 teams. Granted, this season sub .500 teams in the Western Conference are an oxymoron since the only team everyone can agree will miss the playoffs is the Phoenix Suns.
Moreover, a win by the Thunder and loss by the Nuggets on the road to the Nuggets would vault the OKC Thunder into the West’s top ladder rung.
For their part the Bulls enter the week with a new coach and their top star back on the floor. Jim Boylen replaced the recently fired Fred Hoiberg and debuted on Tuesday although the Bulls roster failed to get him his first win.
Lauri Markkanen is also back playing in this third game this season.