One of Tom Thibodeau’s favorite sayings is the Bulls have more than enough talent to win, and his players proved that numerous times last
season. They went 18-9 without Derrick Rose.

But Thibodeau also knows stars win in the NBA. And, with Rose out indefinitely following knee surgery, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook took over down the stretch of a taut game Thursday night.

It’s simplistic to say Durant and Westbrook, who scored 12 of the Thunder’s final 14 points, were the only reasons the Bulls dropped to 1-2 on their season-high five-game homestand after the 97-91 defeat.