In a night that will haunt Chicago Bulls fans for weeks, Australian guard Josh Giddey endured one of the most brutal shooting performances of his NBA career, finishing 1-of-11 from the field as the Bulls were thoroughly dismantled by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 113-131, on March 28, 2026 (AEDT) at Paycom Center.
The Thunder, rolling with a league-best 58-16 record (30-7 at home), exploited Chicago’s second-half collapse to pull away decisively. The Bulls dropped to a dismal 29-44 (11-24 on the road), with the game’s quarter-by-quarter flow telling the story: Chicago actually led by five points at halftime (65-62 after quarters of 32-29 and 35-33), but were outscored 69-46 in the final two periods (21-33 and 25-36), as Oklahoma City’s superior depth and defensive intensity froze the visitors.
Giddey, playing a high-usage 33 minutes, put up a near triple-double in every category except scoring efficiency. He tallied 5 points (1-11 FG, 0-8 from three-point range, 3-4 FT), 7 rebounds, 11 assists, but also 5 turnovers and a painful -20 plus/minus. While his playmaking remained sharp—continuing a season-long trend of strong facilitation—the shooting variance proved costly. Oklahoma City defenders sagged off his perimeter looks in the second half, daring him to shoot, and Giddey simply couldn’t find the range. The result? A night where his vision was neutralized by brick after brick, turning what could have been a competitive contest into a rout.
The Thunder’s balanced attack proved too much. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 points, Cason Wallace added 21 (going 8-of-11 from the field), and Jalen Williams chipped in 18 points with eight assists. OKC shot 47% from the field overall and dominated the glass with 58 rebounds to Chicago’s lower total, while dishing out 29 assists. For the Bulls, Tre Jones paced the offense with 21 points and nine assists, and Isaac Okoro added 20, but the team shot just 42% from the field and committed 12 turnovers. The defensive lapses and inability to score in the second half left Chicago looking flat-footed against one of the NBA’s elite teams.
Across the league on the same night, other Australians delivered far more positive contributions, providing a stark contrast to Giddey’s struggles.
Dyson Daniels started for the Atlanta Hawks in their 102-109 loss to the Boston Celtics. In 32 minutes, the versatile guard posted 6 points (3-8 FG), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, with a team-leading +11 plus/minus among Atlanta’s starters. Daniels impacted the game on both ends with his trademark defense and facilitation, even as the Hawks were outrebounded 52-35 and fell short after leading by five at halftime. His all-around presence continues to make him a valuable piece for Atlanta (now 41-33).
Meanwhile, Tyrese Proctor saw limited but efficient action off the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers in their dominant 149-128 victory over the Miami Heat. In just 6 minutes, the young guard scored 6 points (1-2 FG, 4-4 FT), grabbed 1 rebound, and showed nice attacking instincts in Cleveland’s deep rotation. The Cavs (46-28) built a massive 35-point halftime lead and cruised, shooting a scorching 54% from the field with strong contributions from Max Strus (29 points) and the frontcourt duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Giddey’s nightmare shooting night underscores the ongoing challenge for the rebuilding Bulls. While his playmaking and size at the guard position offer real upside—evident in the 11 assists—he becomes highly predictable when his shot isn’t falling, allowing defenses to load up elsewhere. For a Chicago team already struggling to stay competitive, nights like this amplify questions about offensive consistency and closing out games against top contenders.
As the season winds down, the spotlight remains on whether Giddey can stabilize his shooting to complement his elite vision, while teammates like Daniels and Proctor continue carving out meaningful roles with steady, two-way impact. For Bulls fans, this one stings—officially a nightmare that turned Chicago into the league’s latest laughingstock on a night when the Thunder simply had all the answers.