ICYMI – Eric Bledsoe had Career Night in Loss to Bulls

If you’re a real Suns fan, you want them to lose, right? Losing now makes you a winner later, so it’s okay…right?

Outscored by 20 points over the prior 9 minutes and 40 seconds, and with only several seconds left in a game that the Suns appeared to have had in the bag only minutes before, the Purple Gang from Phoenix found themselves down by two with the ball and a chance to win or tie.

Devin Booker was pegged as the man to win the game, and with two seconds left he lifted up a three-point attempt while being inexplicably fouled by Dwayne Wade awarding Booker with three free tosses and the chance to ice a victory.

First free throw: nailed it.

Booker looked absolutely calm and ready to win the game.

Second free throw: nailed it.

The game e is now tied. Booker looked like he had ice in his veins. Nothing and no one was going to prevent him from winning this game.

Third free throw: off the right side of the rim. Booker held his shooting pose watching helplessly as Len battled to tap the ball back in the hoop but as was unable to grab control before the final buzzer sounded. Suns and Bulls were headed to overtime.

Emotionally, Booker lost it. With an opportunity to win the game, he missed the final free throw and his competitive juices overflowed. His jersey was ripped from his shorts. He screamed at himself for missing the final free throw. He slammed the ground with his hands in desperate emotional pain, knowing that that free throw was the difference between certain victory and possible defeat.

In overtime the Suns were unable to regain their composure, and the Bulls, who had practically been playing from behind the entire game – suddenly found their stride and managed to put the intentionally depleted Suns out of their misery, outscoring Phoenix 20-13 in the final five minutes, ensnaring victory from the jaws of defeat.

Suns fans were surely disappointed to see the Suns lose in such a fashion. And yet, in the back of all of our minds is the knowledge that a loss, in a completely backwards sense, is a win. A loss in the win/loss column, means more ping pong balls in this summer’s NBA Draft Lottery, meaning long-term success is nigh.

This game was also the first for the Suns without P.J. Tucker, the former defensive heart and soul

of this team. And in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, when Chicago needed him the most, the previously quiet Jimmy Butler suddenly came alive and pulled the Bulls back into contention late, ultimately leading them to overtime, and eventually victory. Guarding Butler late was Eric Bledsoe, who while still a solid defender himself, is nowhere near the height, size, nor shares the ferocity, of Tucker.

This truly was a game that Tucker could have helped to win, and that the Suns lost, although they needed  to lose, without him. (Boy this tank talk is difficult and occasionally confusing…)

With the loss, the Suns guaranteed their continuance of a lack of a three-game winning streak, the longest the team has gone without one in franchise history. Phoenix has 24 games remaining in the regular season, with eleven games against Eastern Conference opponents. With the loss the Suns fell to 3-3 on the season in overtime games, and 11-8 against the Eastern Conference.

Intentionally hamstrung tonight with the benching of Tyson Chandler and Brandon Knight allowing the younger players as much regular rotational time as possible (including Alan Williams and Derrick Jones Jr.), the Suns are moving forward with their younger players as much as possible, even at the detriment of the veterans on the roster, and the possibility that their talent and wisdom can help record a few more victories.

Booker led all scorers with 27 points finishing 10-21 from the floor and 2-4 from beyond the arc. He also recorded 2 steals, tied for the most he has had in a game since he recorded 3 steals against Utah on New Years Eve.

Playing only 14 minutes, but will now presumably receive significant playing time with the benching of Chandler, Alan Williams scored 16 points on 8-9 shooting, converting his first 8 attempts on the night. He hampered himself though by recording 5 fouls, all fairly quickly.

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T.J. Warren and Marquese Chriss each scored 17 points on very efficient shooting, as well as dominated the boards with 8 and 7 rebounds repetitively. Alex Len also grabbed 7 rebounds, however, only finished with 4 points.

Eric Bledsoe scored 17 points but dished out 10 assists and grabbed 7 rebounds as well. This was the second game in a row that Bledsoe recorded a minimum of 10 assists, following the 13 assists he dished out against the Lakers in the final game prior to the All-Star Break. The feat marked the first time in his career that he recorded back-to-back games with at least 10 assists. It also marked the 20th time in his career that he has reached 10+ assists in a game.

For the Bulls, Dwayne Wade led the way with 23 points and 3 assists. Jimmy Butler scored 22 points, dished out 9 assists, and recorded 4 steals. Rajon Rondo also had 9 dimes. Nikola Mirtic scored 20 points and grabbed 8 redounds, leading Chicago.