It only took two quarters for the Chicago Bulls to receive the first wave of boos of the season on their home court.
Frustration rained down as the team headed to the locker room after the first half of Saturday’s 114-95 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the United Center. The half ended with a a 22-3 Thunder run as the Bulls flailed on the offensive end, at one point ceding 15 unanswered points.
The dismal welcome set the scene for another season of low expectations for the Bulls, who fell to 1-2 one night after surprising the Milwaukee Bucks on the road.
Here are six takeaways from the loss.
1. Turnovers fed the Thunder’s formidable defense
The Bulls got lucky in the first half. They coughed up three turnovers in the opening three minutes — a trio of preventable errors, which included Coby White dribbling the ball off his leg and out of bounds and Nikola Vučević tossing a pass directly into the hands of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
That recklessness extended throughout the half as the Bulls had 15 turnovers. But the Thunder failed to capitalize on those mistakes, scoring only eight points off them. The Bulls scored five points off the Thunder’s three turnovers in the half, a disparity that only slightly aided their attempt to hold off Oklahoma City’s scoring onslaught.
The Bulls slowed the pace slightly in the second half, which allowed them to mitigate their mistakes. But they still gave up 11 more turnovers, ultimately allowing 21 points off those errors. Zach LaVine led with seven turnovers.
2. The Bulls fell flat from 3-point range — despite historic volume
Whether it’s a hot or cold night, the Bulls’ central game plan for the season is to let it rip from behind the arc. That strategy worked Friday night as the Bulls sank 21 3-pointers in a 133-122 win over the Bucks.
But the pendulum swung in the opposite direction against the Thunder. The Bulls took 53 attempts from behind the arc — the most in franchise history. But they never found their groove, making only 15 of those attempts (28.3%).
Photos: Chicago Bulls lose home opener to Oklahoma City Thunder 114-95
The Bulls went 5-for-26 from 3-point range in the first half. LaVine opened the game 0-for-3 while White went 0-for-4. Three-point attempts accounted for 63% of the Bulls’ shot profile in the opening half; the cold streak resulted in the Bulls losing all scoring momentum.
Similarly to their turnover pattern, the Bulls were helped by a lackluster shooting night from the Thunder, who finished 8-for-40 from behind the arc. But while the Thunder took fewer 3-pointers and fueled their scoring around the rim, the Bulls were unable to unlock offense from any other place on the court.
The poor-shooting night from 3-point range infected the entire roster. Ayo Dosunmu went 0-for-7 before finally making his first 3 in the fourth quarter and finished 1-for-9. Patrick Williams shot 1-for-4 on 3s while White went 0-for-9.
The loss reflected another astronomical increase in 3-point attempts by the Bulls, who averaged 32.1 last season. Through three games, the Bulls are averaging 44.7 attempts from behind the arc.
3. Zach LaVine, Coby White struggled to make an impact
Any offensive victory for the Bulls this season will depend on a strong outing from one of the team’s scoring stars: LaVine and White. But neither player could find a spark in the first half of the loss, logging a combined nine points on 1-for-9 shooting from the field.
LaVine picked it up in the third quarter, firing off four quick baskets to contribute 10 of the team’s 26 points in the frame. He finished with 22 points after going 4-for-6 from 3-point range in the second half, continuing a three-game streak of scoring at least 20 points. But White never found his shot, tallying only nine points and three assists as he shot 25% from the field.
4. Nikola Vučević continued a streak of consistent shooting
The most reliable shooter on the roster this season has been Vučević, who led the Bulls in scoring for most of Saturday’s loss. Vučević averaged a double-double in the first three games and is shooting 7-for-13 from behind the arc. He finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds Saturday.
While Vučević is not the speediest player on the roster, this new version of the offense has benefited the center, who thrives in a pick-and-pop system that allows him to create on the move. His shooting has clearly improved after posting a career-low in efficiency last season, when he shot 29.4% from 3-point range.
5. Alex Caruso made his return
The Bulls welcomed back Caruso — who was traded to the Thunder in June for point guard Josh Giddey — with a thank-you video after the first timeout of the game. Caruso exchanged hugs with teammates during warmups and received a warm round of applause when he checked into the game off the bench midway through the first quarter.
Caruso showcased his typical dynamic disruptiveness — which included swatting a steal off LaVine, who teased him before the game to not reach in on him — as the newest piece in a smothering defensive unit for the Thunder. He finished with three points, two steals, two blocks, two assists and two rebounds.
Giddey, meanwhile, had 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four turnovers against his former team.
6. Lonzo Ball logged first regular-season minutes at home since 2022
When he entered the game at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter, Ball checked off yet another hurdle on a long list of milestones as he continued his unlikely comeback from a long-term left knee injury that required three surgeries and two full seasons on the sidelines.
Saturday was Ball’s first regular-season game at the United Center since Jan. 14, 2022. Ball struggled mightily with his shot against the Thunder, who were eager to pressure him with physicality at half court to cut off his ability to create at the top of the key. He had three points on 1-for-6 shooting and added five rebounds and one assist.
