Suns snap 4-game skid, secure gritty 121-117 win over Bulls

Devin Booker’s 29 points led the Phoenix Suns to a much-needed 121-117 win over the Chicago Bulls, snapping a four-game losing streak.

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Phoenix rolled out a new starting lineup ahead of the game, sending point guard Tyus Jones to the bench and replacing him with three-time All-Star Bradley Beal. The move proved successful as Beal erupted for 25 points. Booker’s game-high 29 was coupled with eight assists. Final member of the Suns’ Big Three Kevin Durant added 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Nick Richards played second half minutes for the first time in a few games and scored 15 points and snagged nine rebounds. Mason Plumlee also added 10 points and six rebounds.

The Suns turn around and take on the Toronto Raptors in the second game of a back-to-back on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. MST.

Booker keeps Suns afloat in 3rd quarter

Devin Booker scored 14 of his 26 points in the third quarter to combat a hot Chicago third period, leading 93-90 going into the final quarter.

Along with his 26 points, Booker added six assists and four rebounds. Bradley Beal aided Booker’s effort with 20 points of his own, along with six rebounds and four assists. Phoenix dominated the Bulls in the paint, outscoring them 48-32 despite Chicago nearly tripling their output from beyond the arc.

Durant, Beal spearhead Suns comeback in 2nd quarter

Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal scored nine points each in the second quarter to bring Phoenix over Chicago, 60-58.

The Suns made their first nine shots of the quarter and finished scoring 40 points on 16-for-21 shooting in the period. In the first half, Durant led with 13 points, Devin Booker and Beal each had 12 points and Nick Richards and Bol Bol each had eight.

Matas Buzelis continued to lead the Bulls in scoring with 13 first half points, followed by Josh Giddey stuffing the stat sheet with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. After shooting 6-for-10 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, Chicago cooled down and only made three 3s in the second.

Suns fall victim to Buzelis outburst in 1st quarter

Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis started off hot with 10 first quarter points to give the Suns an early 30-20 deficit.

Phoenix’s lineup change was spoiled by a lid on the basket and Buzelis’ hot start. The Suns shot 7-for-24 from the field in the quarter, led by Devin Booker with five points, on 2-of-8 shooting, and Bol Bol with six points off the bench. Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal were all at least a minus-10 while on the floor in the opening quarter.

Buzelis’ 10 early points came on 4-of-5 shooting (2-of-3 on 3s) as he scored with little resistance from the Phoenix defense. Kevin Huerter trailed the rookie in scoring for the Bulls with six points off the bench.

Suns move Tyus Jones to bench for Bradley Beal

Amidst a four-game losing streak, Suns coach Mike Budenholzer made the long-discussed decision to move Tyus Jones to the bench for Bradley Beal. Beal has been coming off the bench since Jan. 6, and has averaged 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 15 of those games this season.

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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social