The Phoenix Suns got a little steamy in the 4th quarter to beat themselves 106-97.
Frank Kaminski could at least compensate for Dario Saric who missed the game to keep the game close, while the starting lineup behind Deandre Ayton was able to complete the task for the Suns.
The Suns passed 26-6 in the fourth run to turn the margin around, similar to their 37-7 fourth quarter a week ago over the Pelicans.
The Suns are now 21-11 on the year, while the Bulls have dropped to 15-17.
First half
In the first four minutes of the game, the Suns looked to get Ayton the ball early with a little buzz from veteran point guard Chris Paul. If you touch four of the first 11 possessions to the ball, it hopes to give Ayton a little urgency.
The Bulls’ turnover in the early stages gave the Suns a chance to build on a lead of four in the first quarter.
First quarter itself, Devin Booker, continued the trend of leading the Suns in big shot attempts and points shot 5-11 off the field with 10 points.
Mikal Bridges did what he did best to get to the edge and finished the point with five points. With the absence of Saric, coach Monty Williams will seek out the bench early.
By clearing up the errors, the Bulls were able to level the game at 26 each after the Suns were able to jump out by 11 points.
It has the Thaddeus Young vs. Frank Kaminski match became early in the second quarter as they alternated time and time again. Sounds like a boring match, but the passion to score each other can show that they have a kind of history together? Maybe they should have shared a girlfriend at a time. Both would reach the bench at eight minutes ’point in the second, with Frank at six points and Young at eight.
The Suns still struggled from outside the arc and started the game 1-8 and the Bulls 3-13.
To close out the first half, the Bulls trailed 9-0 and took their lead to 42-48. After a timeout from Suns, Paul and Booker were able to get to the line, something you do not often see from the Suns. However, the Suns could not get the traction on the Bulls and entered the tunnel 58-46.
The most important rest time statistics from Suns:
- Suns gave 30 points in the paint
- ZERO turnover
- 10 points off the bench
- 1-10 from 3
- With 22-15 he hit back without giving up an attacking setback
Second half
Ayton was the priority for the Suns to start the second half. To get him the ball, which usually leads to nothing. This offended the Suns in other directions. To hit off at the free throw of Booker and Bridges to hit a try to get the offense underway.
Then back to Ayton. By the 7-minute mark in the 3rd quarter, the Suns were able to reduce the lead to seven. Ayton was fed the ball over and over to get him to 14 points. If the mid-game and the three-point game do not flow, the next action was to feed the inside.
The Suns were able to put together a 13-2 run, but the three-ball would not fall. The Bulls were able to shut down more than a few tries to extend the lead to 12.
The bench, including Abdel Nader and Frank, were able to put together an 11-0 run and help the Suns close the gap. A little more ball movement from the Suns and errors (including a Billy Donavan technology) by the Bulls defense added.
Frank starts the 4th quarter with his 13th point and a big block on the other side. The fight between Frank and Young had the taste for more blood. A jersey exchange after the match would possibly have taken place.
Ayton replaced Frank in the heat of battle and the Suns led the big man. All the touches in the first half and the 3rd quarter led
The Suns took a 6:14 lead in the 4th quarter with a 89-87 thinning of Cam Johnson.
Even with the lack of respect from the refs for Booker, the emotions were just kept in check enough not to get a technique. The focus on finishing the Bulls in the defensive side and inside the paint completed the return when Ayton was fed and the shots started to fall.