Who: Phoenix Suns (42–35) vs. Chicago Bulls (29–47)
When: 12:30 PM Arizona Time
Where: United Center — Chicago, Illinois
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, NBATV
The Suns are about to play their 78th recreation of the season (yeah, the postseason is coming in quick), and it’ll be their ultimate matchup against an Eastern Conference staff: the Chicago Bulls.
About a month in the past, Phoenix acquired caught off guard by this similar staff, shedding by simply two factors in a messy and considerably regarding recreation. The Suns by no means even held the lead, largely due to poor taking pictures: 39% from the discipline, 28% from three, and 67% from the free-throw line.
As for current type, it hasn’t been fairly for both facet. The Suns are 3–7 over their final 10 video games, whereas the Bulls are even worse at 2–8, together with a five-game shedding streak. One staff is attempting to regain confidence and rhythm to safe the seventh seed, whereas the different is mainly taking part in for nothing. Too removed from the Play-In, too removed from the lottery.
- Amir Coffey — QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle)
- Haywood Highsmith — OUT (Right Knee)
- Zach Collins — OUT (Right Toe)
- Noa Essengue — OUT (Left Shoulder)
- Josh Giddey — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring)
- Lachlan Olbrich — PROBABLE (Plantar Fascia)
- Nick Richards — QUESTIONABLE (Right Elbow)
- Collin Sexton — PROBABLE (Right Finger)
- Anfernee Simons — OUT (Left Styloid)
The Suns are dealing with a Chicago staff that performs at one in every of the quickest paces in the league (third this season), pushed by transition engines like Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, and Collin Sexton. The first key matchup shall be tempo management: Booker wants to dictate a extra managed tempo against a staff that always needs to run, and quick, rushed basketball hasn’t precisely labored out for Phoenix these days.
Another key issue is the matchup between Matas Buzelis and the Suns’ wings. Buzelis has taken an actual leap this season. He’s not in the MIP race, however his enchancment is simple. He’s lengthy, offensively versatile, and has no drawback placing up double-digit rebounding performances. If given an excessive amount of freedom, he could be harmful—Brooks, Fleming, and the relaxation will want to keep locked in.
Finally, the battle inside may very well be intense: Mark Williams (if he performs), Oso Ighodaro, Khaman Maluach, Guerschon Yabusele, Nick Richards, and Jalen Smith will all be concerned. The Bulls are the second-best defensive rebounding staff (34.8 per recreation), whereas the Suns rank 4th in offensive rebounds. This might flip into an actual struggle in the paint in Chicago.
The first secret is easy: gradual the recreation down. Chicago is simply harmful after they management the tempo. If Phoenix dictates tempo, forces the Bulls into half-court units, and limits turnovers, the benefit shifts instantly.
The second focus is attacking Chicago’s perimeter protection, one in every of the weakest in the league (twenty fourth this season). Booker, Green, and Gillespie want to hunt switches, go at Giddey and Tre Jones, and generate open seems to be for O’Neale, Allen, Fleming. Or even Oso Ighodaro (okay, possibly not him).
Defensive self-discipline can be essential. The Suns want to rediscover consistency in their assist protection, traps, and pick-and-roll protection. Mistakes will occur, that’s inevitable — however they want to be minimized. This is the type of recreation the place you clear issues up and put together for larger challenges forward.
Lastly, Phoenix completely has to win the non-Booker minutes, which is a recurring difficulty. That means giving clear playmaking accountability to Green, Gillespie, and even Allen, working easy units (Spain PnR, ghost screens, off-ball actions), and leaning into Oso’s simplicity. A extra defensive-minded lineup might additionally assist create additional possessions and tempo swings — which, in 2026, is mainly the basis of successful basketball.
If these three levers are pulled, the Suns ought to be in management.
I don’t anticipate a straightforward recreation. Not in any respect. It ought to be fast-paced and entertaining, and if the shot-making is there, we might see a very enjoyable matchup between two groups with fully totally different approaches to tempo.
That stated, Phoenix continues to be the higher staff (and almost at full energy), so I’m going with a stable win for the Suns.
