Bulls Burned by Suns in 121-117 Loss

The Bulls started the game strong, hitting their three-pointers while the Suns struggled to adjust to the lineup change. Bulls’ wing Kevin Huerter took advantage of his opportunities, draining several movement three-pointers. 

Rookie Buzelis did not shy away from his matchup against Hall of Famer Durant, hitting step-back threes and driving past defenders, signaling that he was poised for a standout night.

However, the Suns responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Bulls by 12 points. With 1:46 left in the half, the Suns tied the game off a Durant assist to center Nick Richards. Shortly after, Booker took the lead with a driving floater. The Bulls had lost their established lead and were down by two at halftime. 

Nikola Vucevic, usually a reliable scorer, struggled to find his rhythm as the second half began. Not long into the quarter, Billy Donovan called a timeout when his team failed to score during the first few minutes. A key factor in the Suns’ success was their limited three-pointers, which focused on getting to the free-throw line. Coby White was a catalyst in maintaining the Bulls' scoring against the Suns.

In the final quarter, Durant took charge, but Giddey fought back valiantly. Although Giddey’s shot attempts were often inefficient, he consistently managed to get to the free-throw line. What ultimately hurt the Bulls was their inability to create shots down the stretch, leading to costly turnovers.

What's On Tap Next?

The Chicago Bulls head to the Wells Fargo Center to defend their play-in positioning against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, Feb. 24th. Tip-off is at 6 pm CT and will air on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN).