The Suns Vs. Bulls Recap starts with a 124-117 Chicago Bulls victory after the Phoenix Suns built a 15-point lead. Phoenix scored 40 points in the first quarter and led 64-62 at halftime. The NBA box score shows Chicago outscoring Phoenix 62-53 after halftime.
The Bulls shot 50.6% overall and 36.4% from three, while the Suns finished at 47.6% and 30.6%. Chicago also committed five fewer turnovers and finished with 30 assists compared with 25 for Phoenix. The Bulls’ 12 offensive rebounds and 87.5% free-throw shooting helped overcome a 54-43 rebounding deficit.
The Suns controlled the opening quarter by shooting 65% from the field and making seven of 12 three-point attempts. Chicago responded by keeping its starting group involved while attacking the paint and offensive glass more consistently. The adjustment produced a 33-24 second quarter that reduced an 11-point deficit to two.
Norman Powell became especially important during that response, knocking down consecutive three-pointers during the Bulls’ second-quarter push. Matas Buzelis also attacked the basket aggressively, forcing Phoenix’s defense to collapse before Jalen Smith followed with a putback. The action reflected Chicago’s emphasis on pressure at the rim and second-chance opportunities.
The Bulls eventually finished with a 57.8% effective field-goal percentage compared with 54.2% for the Suns. The five-assist advantage also reflected cleaner ball movement when the game tightened. Earlier Chicago updates had already highlighted the offensive versatility Coach Tiago Splitter wanted to develop.
The biggest factor in the Suns Vs. Bulls Recap was Phoenix’s inability to protect possessions. The Suns committed 26 turnovers, and those mistakes produced 36 Bulls points in a game decided by seven points. The possession difference became even more damaging because both teams finished with 105 possessions.
The turnover problem became especially damaging during the third quarter. Phoenix reached 15 turnovers midway through the period before additional mistakes helped Chicago take a 93-90 lead. The RealGM box score lists a 24.7% turnover rate for the Suns compared with 20.0% for the Bulls.
The available play-by-play also shows the different ways Phoenix lost possessions. Ryan Dunn forced an eight-second violation, while Devin Booker and Green each committed offensive fouls that became turnovers. Postgame PHNX Suns coverage also identified the 26 turnovers and resulting 36 points as central problems.
The problem continued a trend from the Detroit Pistons loss. The Suns committed 32 turnovers against the Pistons after holding a 19-point lead, making the earlier preseason breakdown relevant to another blown advantage. Repeated possession failures have now become the clearest preseason concern.
Phoenix’s 40-point opening quarter created the 15-point advantage, but the scoring efficiency dropped sharply afterward. The Suns shot 33% in the second quarter and 42% in the third before reaching 50% in the fourth. The decline prevented Phoenix from rebuilding separation after Chicago closed the gap.
Booker finished with 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting and went 0-of-8 from three. Green added 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting while committing four turnovers, while Dillon Brooks provided 24 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Brooks supplied efficient scoring, but the primary creators needed more production after the opening burst.
Patrick Williams’ three-pointer gave the Bulls a 93-90 lead entering the fourth quarter. The shot eliminated the cushion created by the Suns’ first-period explosion and shifted the game toward late execution. Booker acknowledged the need for improvement after going 0-for-8 from three, telling reporters he was going “back to the lab”.
Chicago’s bench production adds another important layer to the Suns Vs. Bulls Recap. Tobe Awaka finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds, while Leonard Miller scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Those contributions created extra possessions while the Bulls’ frontcourt remained short-handed.
Awaka’s work on the glass proved particularly valuable because the Bulls finished with 12 offensive rebounds. Smith added five offensive boards, helping Chicago match Phoenix’s offensive-rebound total despite losing the overall rebounding battle 54-43. Earlier frontcourt concerns made the Bulls’ second-chance production especially relevant.
Miller also showed useful versatility in a smaller lineup. The Caleb Wilson debut added another young scoring option, while Wilson’s 15 points gave Chicago seven players in double figures. The depth advantage mattered because several Bulls contributors remained effective after the Suns’ starters established early control.
The fourth quarter ultimately separated the teams after Chicago took a 93-90 lead into the final period. The Bulls scored 31 points and shot 63% from the field, including 12-of-19 overall shooting. Phoenix scored 27 points and could not generate enough efficient possessions to regain control.
Chicago also produced 10 assists in the fourth quarter, giving the Bulls a major advantage in creating quality looks. The Suns finished with 25 assists compared with Chicago’s 30, while Phoenix’s 26 turnovers repeatedly erased otherwise productive possessions. The NBA game recap confirms the final 124-117 result.
The Suns still received productive reserve performances late. Jordan Goodwin recorded six steals, Khaman Maluach added eight points and seven rebounds, and Collin Gillespie supplied 12 points. The Bulls’ starters and reserves combined for enough late execution to finish the comeback.
The Suns Vs. Bulls Recap ultimately shows Chicago winning through possession control, offensive rebounding, and late-game execution. Powell’s shooting, Smith’s interior production, Awaka’s physicality, and Miller’s efficiency gave the Bulls enough production to erase a major deficit. Chicago did not need to dominate every category to control the second half.
Phoenix’s 40-point first quarter therefore became almost irrelevant because the Suns surrendered 36 points from turnovers. The Bulls did not need to win the rebounding battle or overwhelm Phoenix from three because every additional possession became increasingly valuable. The 57.8% effective field-goal percentage also gave Chicago enough offensive efficiency to capitalize.
The second preseason collapse deserves attention without becoming an overreaction. The Suns lost a 19-point lead against Detroit before surrendering a 15-point advantage against the Bulls, creating a clear ball-security issue worth monitoring. Preseason results carry limited weight, but repeated execution problems still provide useful warning signs.
Chicago earned a convincing preseason win by refusing to let Phoenix’s 15-point advantage dictate the game. Powell’s efficiency, Smith’s interior production, Awaka’s offensive rebounding, and the Bulls’ second-half execution powered the comeback. The Suns instead produced another strong opening followed by too many empty possessions and another failure to protect a lead.
The Suns vs. Bulls recap ultimately points toward two very different preseason lessons. Chicago showed enough offensive versatility to erase a major deficit, while Phoenix again showed how quickly turnovers can erase excellent stretches. Wednesday’s result means little for the standings, but Phoenix has a clear execution problem to solve before October 21.
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