Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) handles the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Devin Booker scored 29 points, Kevin Durant added 27 points and 10 rebounds, and the visiting Phoenix Suns snapped a four-game skid by beating the Chicago Bulls 121-117 on Saturday.
Bradley Beal added 25 points in his return to the starting lineup for Phoenix, which took its first lead late in the second quarter and never trailed in the second half. Nick Richards added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Mason Plumlee had 10 points off the bench.
Article continues after this advertisement
Chicago lost its season-high sixth straight game despite mounting a late rally in the fourth quarter. The Bulls trailed by eight before using a 10-2 run to tie the game at 111 with 2:22 left in regulation.
READ: NBA: Devin Booker becomes Suns’ all-time leading scorer
Durant made four foul shots and Booker’s trey put Phoenix ahead 118-111 with 1:08 remaining. Chicago responded with four straight points to make it a one-possession game before Beal drained a 3-pointer with 13.4 seconds left to seal the victory.
Article continues after this advertisement
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) takes a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Josh Giddey led the Bulls with 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Coby White scored 20 points and added eight assists, Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 11 rebounds, Matas Buzelis scored 15 points, and Kevin Huerter added 14 off the bench.
Phoenix won its 10th straight meeting against Chicago, which shot 18 of 53 (34 percent) from 3-point range. The Suns were 10 of 30 (33.3 percent) from beyond the arc.
READ: NBA: Suns shipping benched Jusuf Nurkic to Hornets
Making his first start since being replaced in the lineup by Tyus Jones on Jan. 6, Beal finished 10-of-19 shooting with six rebounds and four assists.
Chicago led 30-20 at the end of one period and extended its lead to 13 early in the second quarter before Phoenix answered with an 11-2 run.
The Suns held a 60-58 advantage at the half after outsourcing the Bulls 40-28 in the second quarter. Phoenix shot 16 of 21 (76.2 percent) from the field for the period.
Durant, Booker and Beal recorded 37 of the Suns’ 60 points in the first half.
Phoenix carried the momentum into the third quarter and led 81-69 with 5:08 left in the period before Chicago pulled within 93-90 after closing the period on a 21-12 run.
Chicago played without forward Jalen Smith (concussion protocol) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (left shoulder soreness). –Field Level Media