Phoenix and Chicago square off for the first time this season in Saturday’s Game of the Day.
The Phoenix Suns (26-29) and Chicago Bulls (22-34) look to get back in the win column when they tip off on Saturday (5 ET, League Pass). The Suns have lost four straight and seven of their last eight games, while the Bulls hope to end their losing streak at five games.
Here are five things to know before tip:
1. Royce O’Neale in rhythm: O’Neale has put together an impressive stretch of play in February. In eight outings this month, the eighth-year forward is averaging 13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.0% from 3-point range in 30.1 minutes. He went off for a season-high 27 points on 6-for-12 from distance in a loss to San Antonio on Thursday. On the season, O’Neale’s 9.9 points and 41.5% mark from three represent career-highs.
2. The fast break battle: The Bulls enter today’s game ranked seventh in fast break scoring at 17.0 per contest, and they’re third in pace at 103.57. The Suns struggle to stop opposing teams on the break, giving up 16.7 points a night, landing them at 25th across the Association. Chicago will look to exploit Phoenix in transition.
3. Precision from behind the arc: Both teams boast a top 10 figure in three-point percentage, so you can expect a lot of takes and makes from behind the arc in this one. Phoenix is fifth at 37.5%, while Chicago sits ninth by connecting on 36.9% of their triples. The Bulls hoist a whopping 43.1 attempts from three per game, second-most in the league behind only Boston, which accounts for 46.9% of their total field goals attempted.
4. Matas Buzelis gaining steam: Buzelis, the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has started to get more minutes for the Bulls as of late. Over his last five games, all starts for the Chicago native, the rookie has put up 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 25.6 minutes. In his last game off the bench on Feb. 4, Buzelis erupted for a career-high 24 points while going a perfect 10-for-10 from the field and four-for-four from three-point range in 31 minutes.
5. Josh Giddey’s scoring punch: Giddey is another Bull who’s having a solid stretch in February. The 22-year-old guard from Australia has reached double figures in scoring in all seven games this month, while lighting it up from three-point territory. In his last seven games, he’s averaging 18.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.3 steals with shooting splits of 48.9 FG%/47.4 3PM%/77.8 FT% in 30.9 minutes. In Chicago’s overtime loss to New York on Thursday, Giddey recorded his 16th double-double in 2024-25 by dropping a season-best 27 points and 16 rebounds.
