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Has it been eight games already?
Phoenix polished off its longest homestand in franchise history with a 99-93 win over the Bulls on Friday night. The victory gave them a 6-2 record during the stretch at US Airways Center, and it was perhaps the grittiest win of them all.
Behind their their efficient backcourt of Eric Bledsoe (23 points, six asssists, four rebounds, three steals) and Goran Dragic (21 points, four assists, two blocks), the Suns were able to outlast a tired Bulls team coming off a double-overtime loss the night before. It wasn't easy or, at times, pretty.
It was satisfying, for at these reasons at least:
3. Phoenix's guards trumped Chicago's
Dragic Denies Rose
Despite sporting a former MVP and current All-Star, the Bulls backcourt simply needed too many shots to keep pace with Bledsoe and Dragic. Not only that, but Phoenix's guards out-produced them in nearly every other area of the game:
Rose/Butler: 45 points, 39 FG%, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals
Bledsoe/Dragic: 43 points, 50 FG%, four rebounds, 10 assists, four steals, two blocks
2. Fourth quarter, Keef's quarter
The Suns had just emerged from a third quarter in which they scored just 13 points at a putrid 26.1-percent shooting clip. In the between-quarters huddle, Suns Head Coach Jeff Hornacek held a brief conversation with forward Markieff Morris.
"Okay, Keef, this is your quarter."
"Coach, it's always my quarter."
Morris' play backed up his confidence. The 6-10 forward turned in eight points, five rebounds and an assist in the final period to help put the Bulls away for good.
1. Phoenix won ugly
Highlights: #SunsVsBulls
Make no mistake, the Suns played like themselves for a few stretches. They finished with 23 fast break points and led by as many as 16.
Yet the most impressive part of the victory came on defense, where they held Chicago to 41.4 percent shooting. In the final period, they swapped identities with the Bulls and crashed the glass for four offensive rebounds. By the ned of the night, it was the Suns who ultimately won the battle of the boards.
"We just outrebounded one of the best rebounding teams in the league, so that's one thing [we've improved]," said big man Brandan Wright.