Bulls End Suns’ Winning Streak with Thrilling 105-103 Victory Behind Sexton’s 30-Point Performance

The Chicago Bulls showed remarkable resilience on Thursday night, overcoming injuries to key players and a furious late comeback attempt by the Phoenix Suns to claim a crucial 105-103 road victory. This win marked just their second victory in three games following a devastating 11-game losing streak that had plagued their season.

Sexton Stars as Bulls Control Early Action

Collin Sexton was the catalyst for Chicago’s success, shooting an efficient 11-of-19 from the field to record his season-high 30 points. The guard received strong support from Tre Jones, who contributed 21 points, while Guerschon Yabusele added 16 points and connected on three crucial 3-pointers throughout the contest.

The Bulls dominated the paint against a Phoenix defense missing center Mark Williams, who is expected to miss two-to-three weeks with a stress reaction in his left foot. Chicago capitalized on this advantage, scoring an impressive 68 points in the paint, with 38 coming in the first half alone. The visitors never trailed during the entire game, shooting 47.7 percent from the field.

Dramatic Finish Tests Bulls’ Resolve

Despite building what appeared to be a comfortable 12-point lead with six minutes remaining, the Bulls found themselves in a tense finish. Sexton’s 3-pointer had given Chicago their largest advantage at 97-85 with 6:14 left, but Phoenix refused to surrender.

The Suns mounted a determined rally behind Devin Booker, who led Phoenix with 27 points in just his second game back from a four-game absence due to a right hip injury. Grayson Allen contributed 21 points, while Jalen Green managed 12 points despite struggling with his shooting, going just 5-of-20 from the field and 1-of-8 from 3-point range.

The climax came with 23 seconds remaining when Booker drilled a deep 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 104-103. After Chicago turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds play, Green had a golden opportunity to give Phoenix their first lead but missed a driving layup with five seconds left. Nick Richards was fouled on the rebound and made the first free throw before missing the second, with the Bulls controlling the loose rebound as time expired.

The victory was particularly impressive considering Chicago’s injury situation. The Bulls played without leading scorers Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, both sidelined with ankle injuries suffered in Tuesday’s loss to Oklahoma City. Leonard Miller stepped up with his first start of the season, contributing eight points and nine rebounds.

For Phoenix, the loss snapped a two-game winning streak and continued their inconsistent play, having now lost seven of their last 11 games. The seventh-place Western Conference team also played without Dillon Brooks due to a fractured left hand.