Butler, Gasol help Bulls over Thunder

The Oklahoma City OKC Thunder take on the Chicago Bulls today in a game on the NBA basketball Christmas Day schedule which sees both teams entering the day with winning records but one team in the middle of a three game winning streak, and the other team mired in a three game losing streak.

Bulls vs Thunder live stream online is available in WatchESPN.com.

Chicago (15-11) have lost three games in a row and it won’t get any easier in this big marquee match up on Christmas.

Hassan Whiteside had 17 rebounds for Miami, which is 9-1 against teams from the Western Conference – and only 8-10 against Eastern Conference opponents.

It gave the Bulls a season sweep over the highly regarded Thunder and was the first game this season the Thunder never led. But the Bulls opened the third quarter as they did the first, dominating and this time behind three Rose baskets for an 8-0 start.

It was the first game this season that the Thunder failed to hold a lead at any point during the contest, per ESPN’s broadcast. They started the game 11-0 and Gibson and Gasol combined for 20 first quarter points. The Bulls play in Dallas Saturday.

Chicago led 51-37 with 4:58 left in the first half, but the Thunder cut it to 54-52 at halftime.

Kevin Durant had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, and Russell Westbrook added 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. All five assists were in the second quarter.

Derrick Rose has also been in a slump of late after scoring a season-high 34 point against the Pistons a week ago. OKC’s shooting went cold and they scored just 16 points and had as many turnovers (5) as made field goals in the quarter, trailing the Bulls 86-68 headed to the fourth. The Thunder then came with some lightning with a pair of Anthony Morrow threes after Bulls mistakes to get within 97-89 with just under five minutes remaining.