Kevin Durant's season-high 43, game-winning shot, lead Suns over Bulls

The Phoenix Suns (25-18) won a thriller over the Chicago Bulls, 115-113, on Monday, led by Kevin Durant, who hit the game winning shot after leading a big comeback.

Phoenix extended its streak to six victories, their second-longest this season, and remain hot winning 11 of their last 14.

After Durant’s mediocre shooting in the first half, he took over in the second by scoring 30 of his season-high 43 points (16-of-32 FG, 6-of-15 from 3). He added eight assists, six rebounds, one steal, one block, and just one turnover in his second consecutive 40-plus outing.

Jan 22, 2024; Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) argues a call with referee Mousa Dagher (28) during the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Footprint Center.

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In a game that came down to the final possession, Durant hit the go-ahead jump shot at 1.6 seconds left before the Bulls failed to tie the game or go up with a 3.

The Bulls held a double-digit lead for most of the game, having the Suns were down by 23 in the third. They looked finished until Durant took over.

Durant’s three straight field goals, including a 3 and two turnaround jump shots, gave the Suns their first lead of the game at 95-94 around seven minutes left to play.

More: ‘What haven’t I done?’ Should Kevin Durant be in GOAT conversation?

There were 11 lead changes and four ties thereafter.

All five Bulls players scored in double figures, including All-Star DeMar DeRozan’s team-high 21 points, and their reserve Ayo Dosunmu had 13.

Devin Booker and Bradley Beal had 16 and 18 in the comeback win, respectively.

The Suns play their next game at their rival Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday in Texas, the start of a seven-game road trip.

Durant, Eubanks spark Suns run in 3rd quarter

Phoenix’s 11-2 run trimmed Chicago’s largest, 23-point lead early in the third period to 90-83 entering the fourth.

That’s due to Kevin Durant finding his shooting touch and backup big Drew Eubanks’ big boost off the bench.

Durant scored 13 of his game-high 26 points and added three of his total eight assists in the third, and hit 3-of-4 from the 3.

Eubanks scored six of his eight points, including back-to-back dunks, grabbed five rebounds and added an assist to Durant. He also had a block on DeMar DeRozan (15 points, three assists) and caused a crucial turnover off Andre Drummond (six points, five rebounds).

Bulls smoke Suns in 2nd quarter

Phoenix continues trailing Chicago, 66-49 at the intermission.

The Bulls maintained their double-digit lead in the second quarter, and matched their largest lead of 19 points like they had toward the end of the first quarter.

Four Chicago players had scored in double figures and have shot efficiently in the process. That includes starters Coby White’s 13 on 5-of-7 FG, Alex Caruso’s 12 on 4-of-8, Nikola Vucevic’s 10 on 5-of-7, and backup guard Ayo Dosunmu’s 10 on 5-of-9.

The Bulls have nailed 55% of their shots and 45% from 3, the latter having big contribution from Caruso gong 4-of-7 and White hitting 3-of-4 from the arc.

The Suns are struggling from deep, hitting just 3-of-14, but getting some decent production from its Big 3.

Devin Booker leads all scorers with 14 on 5-of-7 with two made 3s. Kevin Durant has 13, but had shot just 4-of-13 including 0-of-6 from 3 and recorded five assists. Bradley Beal has eight points (3-of-7).

The Suns are outrebounded 23-16, and gave up 10 points on all five turnovers, which were steals.

Bulls’ White leads huge surge over Suns in 1st quarter

Phoenix got into a hole in the first period, down 37-22.

The Bulls guard Coby White led their stampede as they finished the quarter on a 23-5 run to put them up by their biggest lead 19 a 1:26 remaining. White started that run with his second trey around the quarter’s midpoint and scored eight of his 11 points (4-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-3 from the arc) during that run.

Devin Booker has Phoenix’s high seven points. The Suns had a rough shooting start from 3, making just 1-of-7, but 10-of-22 overall whereas the Bulls made 7-of-14 treys and 15-of-23 FG.

Starting lineups

The Suns are starting Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, Grayson Allen on the wing, Kevin Durant at the four, and Jusuf Nurkic in the middle.

The Bulls will have guard Coby White and Alex Caruso, All-Star DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams at their respective three and four spots, and center Nikola Vucevic.

Suns’ Allen ruled in

Grayson Allen (left knee soreness) has been upgraded to available for Phoenix. After starting in all 37 of his appearance this season, Allen’s having a career year as the league’s best 3-point shooter at 48.6% and only player with 50/40/90 shooting splits while averaging 13.8 points per game.

Bulls bigs Andre Drummond (back) and Patrick Williams (ankle) have been ruled in, too.

Chicago’s LaVine injured; Suns’ Gordon out

Zach LaVine (right ankle) is back on the injury list for Chicago, and will be out for a week.

The two-time All-Star made his return six games ago in the Bulls’ Jan. 10 win over Houston. That comeback was after he missed 17 games from a foot injury. Other injured Bulls include center Andre Drummond (back) and Patrick Williams (ankle) are questionable; former Suns forward Torrey Craig (foot) and guard Lonzo Ball (knee) are out.

For the Suns, Eric Gordon (wrist) is ruled out tonight, while Grayson Allen (knee) is questionable. Also, Bol Bol (foot), who will miss his fifth straight game, and Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery).

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant’s season-high 43, game-winning shot, lead Suns over Bulls