Thunder Take on Bulls in Chicago Matchup

OKC looks to extend lead in Western Conference against struggling Chicago squad

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:39am

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The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night in a cross-conference matchup. The Thunder, currently sitting at 47-15 on the season, are coming off a 100-87 home win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. However, they will be without key players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein due to injury management. The Bulls, led by former Thunder guard Josh Giddey, are looking to snap an 11-game losing streak after a 120-97 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Why it matters

This game is an important one for the Thunder as they look to continue their strong season and extend their lead in the Western Conference standings. The Bulls, on the other hand, are struggling and will be looking to pull off an upset at home against the visiting Thunder.

The details

The Thunder will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain injury management) and Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus injury management) for Tuesday's game. The Bulls are led by former Thunder guard Josh Giddey and are coming off a 120-97 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks, snapping an 11-game losing streak.

  • The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
  • The Thunder secured a 100-87 home win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

A key player for the Thunder who will miss the game due to injury management.

Isaiah Hartenstein

Another important Thunder player who will sit out due to injury management.

Josh Giddey

A former Thunder player who now leads the Bulls.

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What they’re saying

“OKC continues to be without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. It'll also be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein for injury management purposes on Tuesday, making it even more short-handed. But I still think it can beat Chicago, which has lost 14 of its last 16 games.”

— Justin Martinez, NBA Writer

What’s next

The Thunder will look to extend their lead in the Western Conference standings with a win over the struggling Bulls, while Chicago will aim to snap its 11-game losing streak and pull off an upset at home.

The takeaway

This game highlights the Thunder's continued success this season and their ability to win even when key players are out, while the Bulls' recent struggles underscore the challenges they've faced in a difficult campaign.