The Phoenix Suns (33-37) let a 20-point fourth quarter advantage slip away but held on strong and pulled out a 127-121 victory over the Chicago Bulls (29-40) on March 20.
Phoenix Suns Top Performers:
Devin Booker 41 PTS | 4 REB | 7 AST | 52.3 FPS
Booker put on a show, particularly in the fourth quarter, where he scored 20 of his 41 points to thwart the Bulls’ comeback and helped the Suns climb to the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings. He’s been a steady hand on offense, recording four 40-point performances this season, but has also impressed as a playmaker, recording 6+ assists in eight of his last ten games, including two double-digit assist performances this month. However, his fantasy value is held back by his lack of defensive stats. Despite that, he should continue to produce strong offensive numbers, especially with Beal sidelined.
Kevin Durant 26 PTS | 4 REB | 8 AST | 41.8 FPS
KD’s overall production has taken a hit while he continues to turn the ball over a lot recently. However, he was able to turn it around today, dropping his third 20-point outing in his last four games and committing just one turnover. Despite the inconsistency, he remains a solid contributor in category formats and should improve his numbers if the team racks up more wins.
Nick Richards 18 PTS | 9 REB | 3 BLK | 38.8 FPS
Richards posted a standout stat line today for his position, though it’s tough to expect him to consistently deliver this level of performance. That said, he’s still a skilled scorer and is someone to keep monitoring.
Royce O’Neale 5 PTS | 10 REB | 5 AST | 30.5 FPS
O’Neale has struggled offensively lately, but he has remained a strong contributor, tallying two double-digit point games and two double-digit rebound games in his last three outings. His consistency remains a weakness, but he should still have a solid role off the bench and continue to be a valuable contributor with Beal sidelined.
Ryan Dunn 16 PTS | 5 REB | 1 BLK | 28.0 FPS
Dunn has started in his last four games and has emerged as a two-way force. He’s scored in double digits in each of them with noticeable improvements in scoring, while also delivering modest rebounds and standing out on defense, averaging 3 stocks. He’s likely to maintain his role as a starter with the team struggling, but a tough schedule ahead could impact his numbers.
Chicago Bulls Top Performers:
Josh Giddey 22 PTS | 7 REB | 7 AST | 48.9 FPS
Giddey came off the bench today after missing their last three games with a sprained ankle. But showed no signs of slowing down, recording his third straight 20-point outing while also producing solid value in six other categories. His effectiveness from the free-throw line has played a significant role in his scoring, although it was muted today. Despite that, he’s been exceptional lately, consistently threatening triple-doubles and almost putting up three 50 FPS and one 60 FPS game. However, he’s expected to be out for tomorrow’s back-to-back game.
Nikola Vucevic 24 PTS | 6 REB | 3 BLK | 42.2 FPS
Vucevic started slow in his return from a calf injury, but he’s finally trending in the right direction. He had a strong shooting performance today, knocked down 4 three-pointers and also made a strong impact on the defensive end. However, his production may face some challenges with the team set to face a string of elite Western Conference opponents.
Coby White 24 PTS | 6 REB | 5 AST | 36.7 FPS
White has become the primary offensive option with LaVine gone and thrived, scoring at least 20 points in nine-straight games and almost averaging 30 points this month. He’s been highly productive from the field and the line while also providing good rebounding and playmaking numbers and is likely to keep it going with the team fighting for a play-in spot. But his hot streak would be put to the test with a challenging schedule ahead.
Tre Jones 12 PTS | 6 REB | 9 AST | 34.7 FPS
Jones has been exceptional this month and has emerged as a must-roster player for category leagues. He’s been converting well from the field and has scored 15+ points in five of his last seven games, while also contributing with solid rebounding and elite playmaking. Given his strong recent play, he’s expected to remain a key part of the rotation and will likely have another chance to impress in tomorrow’s back-to-back contest.
Kevin Huerter 15 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 25.4 FPS
Huerter is starting to get into a rhythm offensively, scoring 15+ points in three of his last four outings while also contributing positively in other categories. He has played a larger role recently and should be a good streaming option in deeper leagues.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Matt Buzelis 5 PTS | 1 AST | 1 STL
Buzelis has been an important part of the rotation this month, but his output has been too limited and inconsistent. He didn’t just struggle on offense today but also failed to make an impact in other areas. This trend is also likely to persist but he still remains a capable contributor in both scoring and rebounding.
