Billy Donovan was back in Oklahoma City Monday night, but this time was standing in front of a different bench.The five-year Thunder coach was greeted warmly by his former players but drew a mixed reaction from the OKC crowd at the Paycom Center as he returned as the leader of the upstart Chicago Bulls, whose 29-17 record is good for a surprising second in the Eastern Conference. Fortunately for Oklahoma City, Chicago was short-staffed on Monday, playing without the injured Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso while DeMar Derozan rested.It was a prime opportunity for the struggling Thunder to get back in the win column. Unfortunately, Oklahoma City played through three quarters as though it was the outmanned team.Chicago's Ayo Dosunmu stepped into the starting lineup and put up a huge night for the Bulls, with 24 points to complement 26 from Nicola Vucevic and 23 from Zach LaVine. Oklahoma City gave up 35 points in the first quarter but trailed by only 10 at the half.But Chicago's hot secondhalf start saw the Bulls pull ahead by as many as 28 points.That's when OKC kicked into gear. Oklahoma City ended the third quarter on a 22-8 run, putting it within shouting distance when the final frame commenced. And in that fourth quarter, the Thunder outscored Chicago 32-19.They were led, as usual, by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who put up 31 points on Monday with 10 assists and three rebounds to boot. SGA sank two 3s and nailed 11 of his 14 free-throw attempts in the effort. "That was a really efficient"That was a really efficient 31 points," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said after the game.Unfortunately, Shai's stepback 3-point attempt with 2.3 seconds remaining didn't fall, leaving the Thunder down three. Mike Muscala sank a 3- pointer as time expired, but it didn't matter as Oklahoma City dropped the ballgame 111-110.In addition to SGA's stellar performance, OKC benefited from a 16-point, seven-rebound effort from Luguentz Dort and nine points, eight rebounds and six assists from Josh Giddey. It was the same night the young Aussie accepted his second consecutive Western Conference Rookie of the Month award in a presentation before the game.OKC's comeback provided optimism, but still marked the team's sixth loss in a row and sank its season record to 14-33, including 1-11 for the month of January."Regardless of what is going on in the game, scoreboard and things you can't control,
