{"id":699481,"date":"2026-04-05T12:13:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/699481\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T12:13:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:13:49","slug":"bulls-in-spoiler-mode-as-suns-aim-to-move-up-west-standings-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/699481\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulls in spoiler mode as Suns aim to move up West standings – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vying for postseason positioning in the final week of the regular season, the Phoenix Suns close out a four-game road swing on Sunday with a matinee against the Chicago Bulls.<\/p>\n

Phoenix (42-35), sitting in seventh in the Western Conference and occupying the top play-in round spot entering Saturday, failed to capitalize on sixth-place Minnesota dropping a pair of games. Four games behind the Timberwolves, the Suns come into Sunday\u2019s contest having dropped their last two decisions, falling at Orlando on Tuesday and Charlotte on Thursday.<\/p>\n

After deluging the Hornets with 41 first-quarter points, Phoenix sputtered in the subsequent three periods en route to a 127-107 blowout loss.<\/p>\n

Suns coach Jordan Ott has been tinkering with lineups ahead of the postseason, which included bringing big man Mark Williams off the bench Thursday. Williams scored 12 points and blocked three shots in a reserve role, providing Phoenix with a spark, though Ott said Williams remains \u201cin the starting arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe like how we\u2019re trending healthy right now,\u201d Ott said, referring to the Suns having more options with much of the roster available. \u201cWe\u2019ve all got to figure it out. We\u2019re all part of the solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Phoenix visits the Windy City with focus on the play-in round, Chicago (29-48) is wrapping up its season in the closing stretch. The Bulls are eliminated from postseason contention and riding a six-game losing streak after a 136-96 rout at New York on Friday.<\/p>\n

Chicago has surrendered at least 125 points in all six losses, reflective of a season-long trend. Their 121.6-point per game yield is the third-highest in the NBA.<\/p>\n

The 96 points Chicago scored in New York were its fewest since posting a season-low 91 on Feb. 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really think we started off the season the right way,\u201d Josh Giddey said via the Chicago Sun-Times. \u201cWe were building momentum with the group we had, and then obviously at the deadline things changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bulls underwent significant roster changes midway through the campaign, sending Coby White, Nikola Vucevic and Ayo Dosunmu to playoff contenders Charlotte, Boston and Minnesota, respectively.<\/p>\n

Chicago brought on Anfernee Simons, who scored 20-plus points in two of his first five appearances as a Bull before sustaining a wrist injury that has sidelined him for six weeks. Jaden Ivey was waived last week.<\/p>\n

Collin Sexton is the lone significant roster addition to have played more than six games with the Bulls. He is averaging 17.3 points per game in his 21 appearances with Chicago.<\/p>\n

Sexton\u2019s output is tops among current Bulls, just ahead of Giddey\u2019s 17 ppg. Giddey is also averaging 9.1 assists and 8.3 rebounds per game with a career-high 13 triple-doubles on the season.<\/p>\n

Giddey missed Chicago\u2019s last matchup with Phoenix, a 105-103 Bulls win on March 5. Sexton went for 30 points, outdueling Devin Booker\u2019s 27 points.<\/p>\n

Booker\u2019s 25.7 ppg lead the Suns while Dillon Brooks adds 20.5 points and Jalen Green averages 18.2.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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