Jabari Parker shines as Bulls beat Suns
Chicago Bulls forward Jabari Parker, front, drives against Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
CHICAGO — Jabari Parker had 20 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Phoenix Suns 124-116 on Wednesday night to stop a four-game slide.
Chicago shot a season-high 56.8 percent from the field and placed six players in double figures in just its third win in its last 12 games. Zach LaVine scored 29 points after missing Saturday night’s loss to Toronto due to an illness, and Ryan Arcidiacono finished with 14.
Phoenix lost for the seventh time in its last eight games. Devin Booker scored 23 points, T.J. Warren had 21 and Deandre Ayton added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Jamal Crawford’s pullup jumper for the Suns tied it at 97 with 10:54 left, but the Bulls responded with a 10-0 run. Parker had a driving dunk before Antonio Blakeney capped the decisive sequence with a jumper with 7:27 remaining.
Phoenix pulled within three on Warren’s 3-pointer with 1:27 to go, but Arcidiacono found Wendell Carter Jr. for a layup and LaVine made two foul shots to help close it out.
Carter and Blakeney also had 14 points apiece for Chicago, which improved to 1-7 against Western Conference teams this season. Justin Holiday made three of the Bulls’ 11 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
TIP-INS
Suns: Crawford finished with 16 points, and Richaun Holmes had 14. … Phoenix shot 49 percent from the field.
Bulls: Rookie F Chandler Hutchison was held out after he developed back spasms during the morning shootaround. “It just kind of came out of nowhere,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. … F Lauri Markkanen (right elbow sprain) had “his best conditioning workout” on Wednesday, Hoiberg said. Markkanen and G Kris Dunn (left MCL sprain) participated in a pick-and-roll drill in practice. “We did have our guys out there. It wasn’t a contact drill,” Hoiberg said, “but just to try to get them integrated into a 5-on-5 setting.”
UP NEXT
Suns: Try to stop a six-game slide against Milwaukee when they visit the Bucks on Friday night.
Bulls: Host the Miami Heat on Friday night in the first of three meetings between the teams this season.
