Game Recap: Bulls come up short against Suns

David Banks - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 4 hours ago

CHICAGO—Not long ago, the Chicago Bulls (22-35) were one of the more promising teams in the league, anchored by their version of a big three. Then came a devastating knee injury to Lonzo Ball, followed by trading two of those three players away, and the Bulls are a shell of what they expected themselves to be.

In front of another packed United Center crowd on Saturday, the Bulls got a dose of their own medicine as the Phoenix Suns (27-29) came to town looking to keep the Bulls struggles going. Phoenix has been one of the more disappointing teams this season, but having one of their big three out with an injury isn't going to help.

When the Suns have had their big three available, which they were on Saturday, the team has proven to be a formidable force, and with 81 combined points, it was the Suns coming into Chicago and picking up a hard-fought 121-117 victory. This sums up the Bulls season as they gave the Suns all they could handle most of the night, but couldn't find a way to get over the hump in the end.

No one would be shocked to see the Bulls come out lifeless from here on out when you look at how the season has gone, but you have to give credit where credit is due, as the Bulls came out with one of their better quarters in a while. Matas Buzelis was a big reason for that, as he had the hot hand early and scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half. Eight of those came in the first quarter, during which the Bulls led 30-20 after Tre Jones hit a floater as time expired.

Once the second half got underway, you started to see Devin Booker and the Suns offense get rolling as they outscored the Bulls 40-28 in the second quarter to take a two-point lead at the half. Booker has been known for having big games against the Bulls, and with a game-high 29 points, he was at it again.

Throughout the second half, both teams gave each other their best shots only to rally back. Phoenix did manage to outscore the Bulls in both of the second-half quarters, but the Bulls did their best throughout as they remained within striking distance most of the night before falling 121-117. With Buzelis cooling off the way he did in the second half, it would be up to the rest of the lineup to pick up the slack.

Coby White overcame a rough shooting night from deep to post a solid line, finishing with 20 points and eight rebounds. However, it was the Josh Giddey show yet again, as he is starting to come into his own on the court. Giddey has been picking up his game in recent weeks, posting several double-doubles, including tonight, as he led the Bulls with 24 points and 10 boards.

Chicago also received solid contributions from Nikola Vucevic, who had 16 points and 11 boards, and Kevin Huerter, who came up huge off the bench to finish with 14 points. That was his highest total since coming to Chicago, and he looks to be coming into his form off the bench.

Along with Booker having the game he had, Kevin Durant also came up big by adding 27 points and grabbing 11 boards. Bradley Beal also delivered one of his better games of the season by adding 25 points, which is what the Suns envisioned their big three looking like when they created it.

Whenever you get that kind of production from three of your players, your chances of winning dramatically increase. However, 121 points doesn't come without others getting involved as Nick Richards added 15 points and nine boards. Rounding out the double-digit scorers for the Suns was Mason Plumlee, who paced the Suns bench with 10 points in the road victory.