Suns Hope to Carry Momentum vs Bulls

Who: Phoenix Suns at Chicago Bulls
When: Friday, March 3 at 6 pm MST
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
Spread: Suns -3.5 (SI Sportsbook)

The Phoenix Suns are riding high off the debut of Kevin Durant and hope to carry that success in a road trip with the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls (29-34) are the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference and are 16.6 games back from first place.

Chicago has won their last three-of-four heading into Friday. In three of those contests, the Bulls held their opponents to under 100 points.

Zach Lavine is fresh off a 41 point performance from Wednesday. He's second behind DeMar DeRozan (25) in scoring per night with 24.3 points per game. Nikola Vucevic (17.7) and Patrick Williams (10.1) also average ten points per night.

Vucevic averages a double-double with 11.3 rebounds.

The two teams previously met back on Nov. 30, where the Suns emerged victorious 132-113.

Durant (who scored 23 points in his debut) will again likely be on a minutes restriction tonight. Though the offense for Phoenix looked particularly strong, it was their defense in the win over Charlotte that shined. The Suns currently rank fourth in the NBA in defensive points allowed per night with 110.9.

“I feel good, I feel good,” Durant told Duane Rankin on Thursday. “I feel like how I feel after every game. It’s basketball. You’re running up and down the court, it’s going to be nicks and bruises, but outside of that, nothing serious at all. I feel good. I feel great.”

Deandre Ayton snatched 16 points and 16 rebounds on Wednesday, the fourth double-double in his last five nights.

The Suns have 19 games left to figure things out until the postseason begins. Although things project to be great, Phoenix shouldn't expect to walk away with an easy victory against the Bulls tonight.