OKLAHOMA CITY — Wednesday was the same tired story for the Bulls: Another slow start, compounded by another poor shooting performance in the first quarter, which led to a double-digit deficit. They trailed by 18 in their 116-102 loss to the Thunder.
“It’s a struggle when you lose, but I do think that, you know — I see them trying,” coach Billy Donovan said.
Trying has the Bulls sitting at 5-11 with three games left on their four-game trip, which includes the league-leading Celtics on Tuesday.
“We have not been consistent enough, quite honestly,” Donovan said.
The Bulls’ slow starts are just about the only things that have been consistent.
They scored 14 points in the first quarter, shooting 17.4% from the field. They improved in the second quarter, outscoring the Thunder by one point, and went into the locker room trailing by 11.
A Patrick Williams dunk late in the third tied the game at 69. A few plays later, he added a three-pointer to keep the Bulls’ deficit in single digits.
They trailed by seven entering the fourth quarter. Errors in the closing minutes, including a Coby White foul on Isaiah Joe, who drained a three-pointer and the ensuing free throw, cost them the game.
“We had a couple of miscues on the defensive end,” White said. “I think they just made a couple of plays down the stretch and we didn’t, honestly.”
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 25 points and six assists. White finished with 23 points, and Nikola Vučević had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was met with MVP chants as he stepped to the line in the final 30 seconds. He led all scorers with 40 points and added 12 assists and five rebounds.
“Some of our rotations were a little bit slower,” Donovan said. “Joe made a couple of threes that probably hurt, but we could have done a better job of not fouling him.”
Bulls guard Zach LaVine missed his first game of the season with a sprained right foot after being listed as probable. There was a brief miscommunication before the game that led to Donovan telling the media he was available. Minutes later, Bulls PR notified reporters that LaVine would not play.
Donovan attributed the miscommunication to his being told by the medical staff “we think he’s gonna go,” as LaVine started his pregame warmups. Afterward, Donovan said LaVine felt like he couldn’t play.
LaVine said he’s been dealing with what he described as a mid-foot sprain since the Bulls’ victory Saturday against the Heat.
‘‘I cut my tape off at halftime because it was bugging me to play through it,’’ LaVine said. ‘‘Felt the same way the next game. Two [games] in a row, the same thing. You don’t want to get to that third [game].”
Donovan said LaVine would be monitored on a day-to-day basis.
Amid trade rumors and the scrutiny attached to them, LaVine said he wasn’t concerned about how his decision to sit out would be perceived.
‘‘I don’t like sitting out of basketball,’’ LaVine said. ‘‘I missed enough basketball in my career. I try to play through everything. I could care less if it’s looked at or not.’’
