Thunder Rout League-Leading Bulls

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook went off on the normally tough Bulls defense in a Sunday victory.

Sunday, April 1st 2012, 3:26 pm

By: News 9


Grant Belcher, News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – OKC is close to wrapping up a playoff spot for the third straight year.

But with the way the Thunder have been playing lately, it's safe to say their sights these days are set a lot higher than that.

Oklahoma City continued its hot streak against some of the best teams in the league, blowing out the Chicago Bulls 92-78 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The win is the sixth straight for OKC, a streak including other teams such as the Clippers, Lakers, Blazers and Heat.

The most remarkable part about Sunday's victory was how the Thunder completely turned the tables on the best defensive team in the league.

The Bulls, even without reigning MVP Derrick Rose, who sat for the 10th straight game with a groin injury, are known for their suffocating defense.

But the Thunder were the ones showing off the impressive defensive effort this time.

Chicago's 78 points were its third-lowest point total of the season, and the final margin barely avoided Chicago's worst loss of the season.

The Bulls shot 33 percent from the field, 33 from 3-point range and their leading scorer was former OSU Cowboy and third-string point guard John Lucas III who had 19.

On the other end of the spectrum, Oklahoma City showed that even the top defense in the league stood no chance of stopping the league's top-scoring duo.

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 53 points on 21-of-34 shooting, despite playing fewer than three quarters in the blowout.

At the end of three quarters, Westbrook and Durant's combined total had outscored the entire Bulls team 53-51.

Durant added 10 rebounds to go with his 26 points, and Russell Westbrook had five assists and four steals to go with his 27.

Serge Ibaka had nine points, six rebounds and five blocks while James Harden also reached double figures with 11.

OKC will stay at home to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.

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