Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) aims for the basket as Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) watches in the first quarter at the United Center on March 3, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune)
The margin of the Chicago Bulls’ 125-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night didn’t reflect the reality of the majority of the game.
For three quarters at the United Center, the Bulls matched blows with the Suns, rallying from a first-half deficit and briefly leading one of the Western Conference’s heaviest hitters. But the Bulls’ shooting accuracy evaporated in the final six minutes of the game.
The Bulls went 2-for-12 in crunch time, allowing the Suns to scorch through an 18-4 run. The sudden slump undercut a game’s worth of effort, allowing another win to slip through the cracks as the Bulls remain just outside the play-in tournament.
The lows
- The Suns set the tone in the opening quarter, scoring 40 points despite a balanced defensive approach from the Bulls. The Suns shot 59.1%, including 6-for-13 from 3-point range in the frame.
- The Bulls already were under pressure to stymie the production of stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, who combined for 55 points. But it was Josh Okogie who surprised the Bulls, providing an unexpected boost with 25 points. Okogie went 7-for-15 overall from and 5-for-10 from deep to supplement the already fierce Suns offense.
- The size disadvantage was particularly visible around the rim as the Bulls were outrebounded 13-9 on the offensive boards, struggling equally against bench players such as Jock Landale as they did against the might of DeAndre Ayton and Durant.
- The 3-point arc has haunted the Bulls consistantly this season, and Friday’s loss was no exception. The Bulls shot decently from behind the arc, going 7-for-23. But the Suns made more than twice as many 3s than the Bulls, finishing 20-for-47, once again creating an insurmountable offensive challenge.
The highs
- The Bulls ended the first half on a high note, overcoming a 13-point deficit to carry a four-point lead into the locker room. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine took charge as the Bulls scored the final 10 points of the second quarter. LaVine sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer, sending the Bulls off the court with momentum.
- DeRozan and LaVine combined for their best outing since before the All-Star break. DeRozan scored 31 points on 13-for-18 shooting while LaVine had 27 points on 8-for-21 shooting.
The quote
”Their knowledge alone is a scary triple threat. When they get everybody else together, once they catch their rhythm, they’re definitely going to be dangerous.”
— DeRozan on the Suns’ new Big Three of Durant, Booker and Chris Paul, who played only their second game together.
Where they stand
The Bulls fell to 29-35 and remained in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, two games out of the final spot in the play-in tournament.
What comes next
The Bulls will host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday before heading on a two-game trip to face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday and Houston Rockets on March 11.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service