OKLAHOMA CITY — Bulls coach Billy Donovan started pulling the plug with just less than three minutes left in the third quarter. That’s all one would have to know to understand how Monday night went.
Sure, the Bulls weren’t looking to come into Oklahoma City and end the Thunder’s nine-game winning streak, but they were looking to compete in guard Josh Giddey’s first game back since he was traded for guard Alex Caruso last summer.
They did neither.
‘‘There’s disappointment whenever you lose by such a big margin,’’ center Nikola Vucevic said of the 145-117 laugher. ‘‘You never want to lose by 30 in a game and play the way we played, so, sure, there’s disappointment. But in the NBA, you can’t be disappointed too long or happy too long. We’ve had a really good stretch, and now we’ve lost two in a row and have to regroup.’’
Quickly.
The loss dropped the Bulls to 33-42 and dropped them to the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference play-in seedings. The Heat won, so the Bulls are a game behind them with seven regular-season games to go.
If there was any good news, it was that they had their fate delivered to them quickly. The Thunder (63-12) outscored them 29-18 in the first quarter and 45-22 in the second, all but putting the game on ice.
It was a reminder of what can happen when an elite team plays a mediocre team. Plus, the Thunder do things well on both ends and make life hard on the opposition.
‘‘The shot-blocking, the stealing, the fact that they take charges, right?’’ Donovan said of the Thunder’s elite defense. ‘‘When you try and score on the first action against a team like that, you’re just playing into their hands. That’s a team you’ve got to make two, three, four penetrations, kick, drive-kick. That’s how you have to play.’’
The Bulls did little of that, but Giddey finished with 15 points and 10 assists in his return.
Hurt-er
Guard Kevin Huerter stayed back in Chicago with a sprained right thumb, but he also is just worn down with different ailments, Donovan said.
‘‘He’s just been dealing with stuff,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘He had a thing with his finger, and it’s been a bit of a problem. It’s probably more to protect that, some load management and some time, quite honestly. The hope is he’ll be back [Tuesday against the Raptors], but he’s been beat up. I think medical just felt it was good to rest him.’’
Inching closer
Guard Lonzo Ball made the trip but still missed his 15th consecutive game with an injured right wrist.
If all goes well this week, the Bulls hope Ball finally can return Friday against the Trail Blazers and slowly can build up his minutes for the final stretch.
‘‘We do have two practice days [Wednesday and Thursday], so it would give us at least a chance to get him in some five-on-five stuff,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘But he’s still dealing with it. He’s doing more and more, but I think he would like to clean it up because I don’t think he feels totally comfortable shooting.’’
High praise
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault coached Caruso back in his G League days. So does he see a major difference in a more mature Caruso this season?
‘‘What’s most impressive are the things that haven’t changed about him,’’ Daigneault said. ‘‘He’s eternally present in the game; he’s never distracted. He’s always about the team. He’s never focused on himself or how it’s going for him.’’