PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 41 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, and the Phoenix Suns held off the Chicago Bulls 127-121 on Wednesday night. Kevin Durant had 26 points and eight assists and Nick Richards had 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as the Suns won for the third time in their last four games.
Coby White and Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 24 points each and Josh Giddey had 22. Booker led the Suns by shooting 7 for 11 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line on the way to his 20-point fourth quarter.
The win moved the Suns into 10th place in the Western Conference standings and into the play-in picture, critical as their next three games are against the iron of the East — Cleveland, Milwaukee and Boston.
The Bulls lost for just the second time in their last seven games but dropped to ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. White has now scored 20 or more points in 10 straight games.
The Suns led by 18 early in the fourth quarter but the Bulls cut that to 121-117 on White’s 3-pointer with 27 seconds left. But Booker stepped up and scored seven points in the final moments, including a driving layup with 25 seconds left to give the Suns a 123-119 lead, followed by three clutch free throws.
The Suns outscored the Bulls by 10 points at the free-throw line, making 18 compared to 8 for the Bulls, and the Suns had a 26-9 advantage in second-chance points. The Suns have now won the last 11 meetings between the teams.
The Bulls will visit Sacramento on Thursday night. The Suns play host to Cleveland on Friday night.
After the game, Kevin Durant expressed admiration for his teammate Devin Booker, who finished with 41 points. Durant stated, “I don’t get surprised by big nights from him. I almost expect it every night.”
Overall, this victory improved the Suns’ record to 33-37, which has them currently in 10th place in the Western Conference playoff race, marking a crucial juncture in their season as they look to solidify their spot in the postseason.
Booker's impressive performance not only contributed decisively to the victory but also cemented his position as the player with the seventh-most 40-point games by a shooting guard in NBA history. This places him alongside NBA legends Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and others.
The Suns have finally started to find their rhythm with back-to-back wins for the first time since January. As they prepare to face tougher teams like the Cavaliers, it will be intriguing to see if they can maintain this momentum and push for a higher playoff position.
