Teletovic, Knight rally Suns past Bulls, 103-101
Dec 7, 2015, 9:21 PM | Updated: 9:21 pm
Phoenix Suns' Eric Bledsoe (2), goes up for a shot against Chicago Bulls' Taj Gibson (22), and Joakim Noah (13), during the second half of a basketball game Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, in Chicago. Phoenix won 103-101. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
(AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
CHICAGO — Mirza Teletovic scored 21 points, including a follow basket with 0.3 seconds left, to cap the Phoenix Suns’ furious fourth-quarter rally in a 103-101 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Brandon Knight had 17 of his 21 points in the fourth as the Suns came back from 16 down after three quarters to snap a four-game skid. Phoenix outscored Chicago 42-24 in the final period.
Pau Gasol scored 22 points to lead the Bulls, Jimmy Butler added 19 and Derrick Rose 14.
Chicago led most of the way and its advantage grew to 77-61 entering the fourth quarter as Phoenix was held to 10 points on 4 of 20 shooting in the third.
The Suns’ offense, though, came to life at the start of the final quarter.
Trailing 86-75 with just under 8 minutes to go, Phoenix went on an 11-2 run to pull within 88-86 with just under 5 minutes remaining.
Following a basket by Rose, Knight converted a three-point play to make it 90-89.
The Bulls seemingly created a little breathing room when Butler hit a 3-pointer for a 101-96 edge with just under two left. But rookie Devin Booker hit a 3-pointer and Eric Bledsoe came up with a steal and fast break layup to tie the game with 1:17 left.
That’s where it stayed until Teletovic rebounded a shot and put up a fadaway jumper from about 10 feet.
TIP INS
Suns: C Tyson Chandler missed his sixth straight game with a right hamstring strain. “We’ve got to get him 100 percent,” Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said. “If we get him out there too early and he strains it again and is out another two or three weeks, that’s not gonna help us out.” … They lost four straight before Monday by a combined 13 points. It’s their first losing streak of four games or more with each game decided by points or fewer since 1983.
Bulls: F/C Cameron Bairstow was recalled from the Austin Spurs of the NBDL before the game. Bairstow played five games in the NBDL, averaging 14 points and eight rebounds. … Entering Monday, they were second in the NBA in opponent field-goal percentage with a mark of .409
UP NEXT
Suns: Host Orlando on Wednesday.
Bulls: At Boston on Wednesday.
