Phoenix built a 15-point cushion in the second quarter before Chicago clawed back behind Norman Powell and Josh Giddey to win 124-117. The result drops the Suns to 0-2 in the preseason with the regular opener three weeks away.
Fast start, faster fade. Phoenix ripped off a 14-0 run from the 3:30 mark of the first quarter, turning a 24-24 tie into a 38-27 edge, and stretched the lead to 15 before Chicago erased it. The Bulls, who trailed by 10 at their low point, closed the night ahead, winning 124-117.
Bench outran the starters. Jordan Goodwin posted a plus-16 in just 8 minutes, hitting 2 of 3 shots with 4 steals, and Collin Gillespie matched that plus-16 in 8 minutes on 3 of 5 shooting. Khaman Maluach added a plus-14 in 6 minutes. Phoenix's bench outscored its starters' net impact by a wide margin.
Brooks stayed hot, impact flat. Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 11 points, making 4 of 5 shots and 3 of 4 from three in only 8 minutes, continuing the hot stretch that has him scoring at a high clip while a teammate sits. His plus-minus still read zero, a reminder preseason box scores reward volume over winning time. Grade: B.
Booker's quiet ledger. Devin Booker's only scoring of note came late, five points in the final period, and he finished at zero plus-minus in 8 minutes, closing games alongside Brooks, Jalen Green, Maluach and Rasheer Fleming. For the Suns' $57.1 million centerpiece, a scoreless plus-minus in a preseason loss is not the line anyone in the Valley wanted. Grade: C.
Closing five, different costs. Jordan Ott closed with Booker, Brooks, Green, Maluach and Fleming. Chicago answered with Buddy Hield, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Isaac Okoro and Leonard Miller, and that group finished the job. The Suns' $216.2 million payroll, above the first apron, bought a preseason loss anyway.
Second straight loss. Phoenix is 0-2 in the preseason after also falling 107-109 at Detroit on October 5. Both losses have followed the same shape: a good start undone late, with the bench doing more with less than the stars on the floor.
What was the final score of the Suns-Bulls preseason game on October 7?
The Chicago Bulls won 124-117, dropping Phoenix to 0-2 in the preseason.
Who had the best plus-minus for the Suns against the Bulls?
Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie each finished at plus-16 in eight minutes off the bench.
