The Chicago Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns 105-103 on Thursday. The Suns were a 11.5 point underdog, and at first glance one may be surprised that the spread actually reached double digits.
Prior to the game, the Suns were at 35 wins and 26 losses (nine games above .500). However, Phoenix did not have the services of defensive specialist Dillon Brooks (broken hand) and starting center Mark Williams (broken foot) at the moment. The bottom line is that Royce O’Neale is a significant downgrade to Brooks at the small forward position in Phoenix, and even though Oso Ighodaro has scored 24 points in the last two games, one must question how productive he would be long term at the center position while Williams is out.
What we saw on Thursday was greatness from shooting guard Collin Sexton of Marietta, Georgia, who was traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Bulls on the eve of the NBA trade deadline. Sexton had 30 points, a season high. It seems that Sexton is very comfortable in Chicago, as he is averaging 15.1 points per game.
Three other players on the Bulls reached double digits in points. Point guard Tre Jones of Apple Valley, Minnesota had 21 points, center Guerschon Yabusele of Dreux, France had 16 points and point guard Rob Dillingham of Hickory, North Carolina had 11 points. Meanwhile, center Nick Richards of Kingston, Jamaica had 11 rebounds off the bench.
It is also interesting that despite losing by only one field goal, the Suns never had the lead throughout the entire game. When Chicago took the 4-2 lead on a Sexton layup two minutes and 51 seconds into the contest, Phoenix simply was never able to regroup thereafter.
