Nba results, Chicago Bulls-Phoenix Suns

When Devin Booker missed three consecutive shots in the third quarter, even the United Center crowd was surprised. The Phoenix star was slaughtering Chicago basket after basket in a 38-point show of perfection slowed only by a blow to his left knee. “I’ll be fine” he assures with an everlasting smile of satisfaction on his face. Booker is the cover man for yet another demonstration that the Suns are the best NBA team, a 127-124 at home to the Bulls with a score so liar that home coach Billy Donovan is the first to admit that there wasn’t. match. Yes, Phoenix was superior in every way, from Booker’s baskets to the usual extraordinary direction of Chris Paul (19 points and 11 assists). Chicago, which does not know how to win against the big names, has tried above all with DeMar DeRozan (38 points) and Zach LaVine (32), but has learned again how much it still has to do to be elite.

HIGH BEAM

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The Suns (43 won – 10 lost to date) are simply dazzling. Win number 12 in the last 13 games, 6 double-digit players and 31 team assists. “Our team is always balanced: we take the best shot available, not any shot,” Paul explained satisfied at the end of the game. He is the mastermind behind the best NBA team, the leader everyone follows, the one who sets the times and supplies. of Booker balls. But Phoenix is ​​much more than its two All Stars: in Chicago also shone JaVale McGee, devastating under the basket with 16 points and 8 rebounds in 22 ‘, MIkal Bridges (15 points) and Jae Crowder (10 with 10 rebounds) for the defense that allowed the Suns to put even DeRozan and LaVine in difficulty despite the 70 points in two, and to cancel all the others. “It was the defense that made us win, especially in the second quarter” says coach Williams.

Dazzled

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Chicago (33-21) confirms the moment of fogging: third defeat in four games, with the defense conceding at least 115 points for the 7th match in a row. In 12 games of the season against 7 other best-selling teams, the Bulls have so far only won once. “We need to improve some things, but we are working to be at the top in the season finale,” said LaVine, still troubled by the back problems that had kept him out in the previous two games. He and DeRozan, the engine of the comeback attempt in the fourth period when Chicago returned to -9 from -21, played parallel to the others, finding ways to be productive despite Phoenix’s excellent defense. They would have needed help, but right now the Bulls have too many injuries. And if Ayo Dosunmu, the revelation rookie who has won the starting position, makes a mistake once in the game (2 points and 4 assists with 1/7 shooting in 33 ‘), the lack of depth of the Bulls roster becomes evident. “I think we still have enough to win,” LaVine said. To beat Phoenix, the best NBA team, what Chicago has at the moment is definitely not enough.

THE MATCH

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Booker is immediately unleashed (16 points in the first inaugural) and the Suns with him arrive at 36-29 on the first siren, before running away at 58-37 in the second half, canceling the Chicago attack. The recovery begins with the Suns ahead 67-49: Booker returns unstoppable and 6’23 “from the third siren signs the 88-61 guest, but instead of sinking the Bulls slowly find themselves, first thanks to LaVine and then to DeRozan, who puts 15 points in the first 6 ‘of the fourth period and brings the hosts back under 113-104 with 5’57 ”to play. Phoenix doesn’t collapse and puts the Bulls back at a distance, but when the two coaches empty the benches the Suns get distracted and Chicago gets closer. Malcolm Hill’s -3 basket, however, arrives on the final siren.

Chicago: DeRozan 38 (16/26 from two, 0/1 from three, 6/8 free throws), LaVine 32, Vucevic 13, White 13. Rebounds: Vucevic 12. Assist: LaVine 8.

Phoenix: Booker 38 (9/13, 5/10, 5/6 tl), Paul 19, McGee 16. Rebounds: Crowder 10. Assists: Paul 11.