Here's what you need to know about the Bulls' visit to Oklahoma City on Friday.
After brutally collapsing in Philadelphia, the Chicago Bulls (29-43) face another daunting task tonight as they head to Paycom Center to take on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (57-16). With Chicago reeling from a 20-point blowout and OKC looking to re-establish home dominance, the competitive gap has never felt wider.
The headline for Chicago is a devastating double-blow to their already-depleted rotation. On Thursday, the Bulls officially shut down both Jalen Smith (calf) and Jaden Ivey (knee) for the remainder of the season. These losses are catastrophic for a roster already missing Zach Collins and Noa Essengue. Smith's interior presence and Ivey's playmaking represented the few bright spots during a difficult March — without them, Chicago's bench is historically thin.
Expect heavy minutes for Josh Giddey and sophomore Matas Buzelis, but asking this banged-up group to keep pace with an elite contender feels like an impossible task.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City remains the league's gold standard of consistency. Despite having their impressive 12-game winning streak snapped by Boston on Wednesday, the Thunder look every bit like a championship-caliber team. Their depth is their greatest weapon, perfectly illustrated by the addition of Jared McCain before the deadline.
Since joining OKC, McCain has been a revelation, averaging 12.0 points while shooting over 43% from deep across 21 games. His ability to provide instant offense off the bench has made the Thunder's second unit arguably the most dangerous in the league.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge and OKC boasting the league's top-ranked defense (107.5 DRTG), tonight represents another massive burden for Chicago. The Thunder's defensive versatility and offensive firepower create mismatches at every position—exactly what the Bulls don't need while limping toward the finish line.
Given the injury devastation, what the Bulls can realistically hope for tonight is avoiding another humiliating blowout. Keeping it competitive through three quarters would represent a moral victory for a team simply trying to survive the season's final stretch with whatever dignity remains.
How to Watch
Chicago Bulls (29-43) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-16)
Location: Paycom Center | Oklahoma City, OK
Tipoff: Friday, March 27, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. CT (8:00 p.m. ET)
TV: Chicago Sports Network (CHSN+), FanDuel Sports Network OK
Radio: WSCR AM 670 | Announcers: Chuck Swirsky, Bill Wennington
Betting Odds (FanDuel)
Betting Line: Thunder -19.5
Moneyline: Thunder -2400, Bulls +1200
Over/Under: 236.5
Injury Report
Chicago Bulls
- Jaden Ivey : Out for the season (Left Knee)
- Jalen Smith: Out for the season (Right Calf)
- Anfernee Simons: Doubtful (Wrist)
- Isaac Okoro: Probable (Knee)
- Rob Dillingham: Probable (Bilateral Patella
- Zach Collins: Out for the season (Toes)
- Noa Essengue: Out for the season (Right Shoulder)
- Yuki Kawamura / Mac McClung: Out (Two-Way, G-League)
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Thomas Sorber: Out for the season (Right ACL)
- Nikola Topic: Out (G-League)
- Brooks Barnhizer: Out (Two Way - G-League)
Last Game Starters
Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers (March 25)
- G Josh Giddey
- G Tre Jones
- F Matas Buzelis
- F Jalen Smith
- C Nick Richards
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics (March 25)
- G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- G Jalen Williams
- F Luguentz Dort
- F Chet Holmgren
- C Isaiah Hatenstein