Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker dominate as Suns top Bulls
Feb 22, 2020, 9:12 PM | Updated: Feb 23, 2020, 11:23 am
Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls puts up a shot against Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns at the United Center on February 22, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO — Deandre Ayton dominated with 28 points and 19 rebounds, Devin Booker had 29 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Chicago Bulls 112-104 on Saturday night.
Phoenix outscored Chicago by 13 in the third quarter to wipe out a 10-point halftime deficit and ended the game on a 17-4 run to come away with the win after losing seven of nine. The Bulls dropped their eighth in a row.
Ayton had 12 points and eight rebounds in the fourth quarter and just missed season highs in scoring (31) and rebounding (21)
Booker made 5 of 10 from beyond the arc in another solid showing in Chicago. The guard placed second to Sacramento’s Buddy Hield in the 3-point contest and made his first All-Star appearance last weekend in Chicago.
Ricky Rubio added 18 points and 11 assists, and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 14 points to help the Suns snap a five-game road losing streak.
Bulls rookie Coby White set a career high with 33 points and matched one by making seven 3-pointers. Zach LaVine scored 20 points.
Chicago led 96-95 when Phoenix’s Cameron Johnson made a 3 with 6:30 left to give the Suns a 98-86 lead, sparking the game-ending run.
Mikal Bridges and Booker each made a pair of free throws to push the lead to 11 in the closing minute. Rubio hit 1 of 2 with 30 seconds left for a final score that left fans showering the Bulls with boos.
TIP-INS
Suns: The Suns were basically at full strength, though C Frank Kaminsky (right knee stress fracture) missed his 24th game in a row. Kaminsky, who’s from the Chicago area, is Bulls assistant coach Karen Umlauf’s nephew.
UP NEXT
Suns: At Utah on Monday night.
