Game Preview: Suns prepare to face Bulls with eyes on defensive improvement and rookie potential

Phoenix Suns face Chicago Bulls with a renewed energy. Can they keep it up?

Who: Phoenix Suns (32-37) vs. Chicago Bulls (29-39)

When: 7:00pm Arizona Time

Where: PHX Arena — Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV / Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7 / S: KSUNESPN RadioESPN Radio/SiriusXM

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The Bulls. The only team in the NBA that has never changed its logo. A team that has a record of two games worse in the loss column is two games better in their conference standings.

The Suns continue their five-game homestand tonight against the team from the Windy City, a squad they edged out 121-117 just a month ago. At the time, that loss marked the sixth straight for the Bulls, but they’ve since turned things around in a big way.

Over the past 11 games, they’re 7-4, ranking seventh in both points per game and defensive rating during that stretch. They’ve also won five of their last six, with Coby White and Josh Giddey leading the charge. White has been on fire, averaging 29.0 points over his last six games, while Giddey has been just as impactful, putting up 24.7 points and 11.0 assists per game. Simply put, this isn’t the same struggling team the Suns faced last time.

Assuming the Suns will make mincemeat out of the Bulls just because they steamrolled a G League version of the Raptors would be naïve. We’ve seen this script too many times. Phoenix enters a game against what looks like a “subpar” opponent, only to find themselves in a dogfight. Too often, they’ve needed 40+ minutes from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker just to stay competitive.

This Bulls team may not be elite, but they’re playing inspired basketball, and if the Suns aren’t locked in from the start, it could be another night where their stars have to dig deep just to escape with a win.

Since their last meeting with the Bulls, the Suns have been lighting it up offensively, leading the league in both field goal percentage and three-point shooting. But as we’ve seen, offense isn’t everything. Phoenix is just 5-8 in that stretch. The reason? Defense. Over that span, they own the 25th-worst defensive rating, a glaring issue that continues to hold them back.

So while Chicago might not be an opponent that strikes fear into the Suns, they’re playing winning basketball. Their offense is clicking — just like Phoenix’s — but the key difference is that their defense has stepped up, something the Suns have yet to do consistently. If that trend continues, tonight could be much tougher than it looks on paper.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Bradley Beal — OUT (Left Hamstring)
• Grayson Allen — OUT (Left Foot; Strain)
• Mason Plumlee — OUT (Left Quadriceps; Strain)

Bulls

• Lonzo Ball — OUT (Right Wrist; Sprain)
• Ayo Dosunmu — OUT (Left Shoulder; Surgery)
• Josh Giddey — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle; Strain)

Uniform Matchup

What to Watch For

How much run do the young guns get?

The Suns looked damn good on Monday night, and it wasn’t just the same old tired rotation dragging itself through the motions. No, this time it was the fresh legs and relentless energy of Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro that ignited the spark. These rookies weren’t just filling up the stat sheet. They were rewriting the tempo, flipping the script on what this team could be.

And let’s not forget Collin Gillespie, who didn’t rack up flashy numbers but wreaked havoc on the Raptors’ game plan, bending their offense to his will without a single headline-worthy stat. The youth movement was alive, kicking, and leaving the Raptors gasping in a 40-point blowout that looked as effortless as it was unexpected.

But now, the million-dollar question: what’s next? Does Mike Budenholzer roll with this high-octane, youthful surge, pushing these rookies further into the spotlight? Or does he hit rewind, bringing back the old guard for another go at what’s been nothing short of a season-long struggle?

It’s a gamble either way, but the youth has shown what it can do. The question is, will Budenholzer gamble on the future, or will he retreat into the comfort of the same tired plays that have underperformed all season long? The clock’s ticking, and the answer might just shape the entire season’s narrative.

Key to a Suns Win

Hustle. Fight. Hold on the the gosh darn ball. And guard the perimeter.

The Bulls like to chuck the crud out of the three-ball. They attempt the second most per game at 42.8 a night. They hit 36.3% of them (12th in the NBA). So guard it.

Prediction

It feels like it’s a win, right? The Suns have been playing with some spunk as of late. The energy levels have skyrocketed, the competitiveness has surged, and for once, it feels like this Suns team is actually playing with some fire. Sure, there have been a few brain farts along the way, but overall, the vibe is different.

I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt because they could easily go 0-10 in their next 10. So yeah, let’s give them a win tonight.

Suns 119, Bulls 109

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