Lopez scores 24 as Bulls roll past Suns

[March 19, 2019]  Robin Lopez scored 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 116-101 road win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.

Zach LaVine contributed 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Chicago snapped a five-game losing streak and won for just the second time in the past nine games. Lauri Markkanen added 17 points and nine rebounds, Kris Dunn scored 14 points and Cristiano Felicio had 10.

Deandre Ayton scored 25 points on 12-of-17 shooting and also collected 12 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots for Phoenix.

Devin Booker recorded 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Suns. Josh Jackson scored 18 points, Mikal Bridges added 12 and Troy Daniels tallied 10.

Phoenix dropped to 6-5 since its franchise-worst 17-game losing streak ended.

Chicago shot 51.7 percent from the field but was just 4 of 16 from 3-point range. The Bulls possessed a 49-38 rebounding edge.

Phoenix shot 47 percent and was 7 of 26 from behind the arc.

The Suns trailed by 13 at the break but pulled within 56-48 on Booker's jumper with 9:52 left in the third quarter.

Chicago responded with a 14-4 surge and Dunn capped it with a 21-footer to make it 70-52 with 5:54 remaining.

The Bulls led by 16 late in the quarter before Booker buried a 3-pointer to leave Phoenix trailing 86-73 entering the final stanza.

Bulls center Robin Lopez (right) against Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender (35) in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Suns were within nine early in the fourth quarter but Chicago again countered and its lead reached 98-83 on Ryan Arcidiacono's 11-foot jumper with 7:04 left.

Dunn's three-point play and Shaquille Harrison's basket pushed the lead to 105-86 with 4:15 remaining and the Bulls cruised to the finish.

Lopez scored 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting to help Chicago hold a 56-43 halftime lead.

The Bulls shot 58.3 percent from the field in the opening quarter while opening up a 34-20 advantage. The lead reached 19 at 54-35 on LaVine's three-point play with 4:12 left in the half.

--Field Level Media

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