Wade returns to lead Bulls over Suns
CHICAGO -- Dwyane Wade scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler had 22 and the Chicago Bulls had five scorers reach double figures in a 128-121 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
Nikola Mirotic scored 20 points off the bench and Robin Lopez added 19 for the Bulls (29-29), who also got 15 points from rookie Denzel Valentine on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range.
Devin Booker led the Suns (18-40) with 27 points while Eric Bledsoe, Marquese Chriss and TJ Warren each scored 17 points. Alan Williams also had 16 points for Phoenix, which blew an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Wade's fade away jumper gave the Bulls a 114-110 lead with 3:39 remaining in overtime. A Butler steal and breakaway dunk then extended the lead to six before a Booker 3-point play drew the Suns to within three.
But Wade hit two free throws with 1:150 remaining as Chicago pushed its lead back to seven and put the game out of reach.
The Suns tied the game at 108 with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation when Booker hit two of three free throws after being fouled by Wade on a 3-point attempt. Booker connected on the first two free throws, but missed the third to force overtime.
Butler gave the Bulls a 108-106 lead with 9.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when he backed down Bledsoe and scored on a jump shot. Butler's 3-point field goal with 48.3 seconds left knotted the game at 106 for the Bulls.
Phoenix opened up a 13-point lead midway through the third quarter behind Bledsoe and Booker. But Valentine helped to keep Chicago close from 3-point range. Valentine's fifth 3-point field goal drew the Bulls to within 78-77 with just more than a minute and a half remaining in the third quarter.
NOTES: The Suns waived F Mike Scott and C/F Jared Sullinger a day after they were obtained from Toronto for P.J. Tucker. ... The Suns signed G Ronnie Price for the remainder of the season. ... F Dragan Bender is making progress after undergoing ankle surgery earlier this month, but has not returned to basketball activities. ... Bulls F Paul Zipser missed his fourth straight game with ankle tendinitis and will not travel to Cleveland for the Bulls' game against the Cavaliers Saturday. ... G Dwayne Wade returned to the starting lineup after missing three games with a wrist injury. ... F Bobby Portis made his second start of the season and took the spot of Taj Gibson, who was traded to Oklahoma City. ... Newly acquired G Cameron Payne passed his physical Friday, but is recovering from the flu and did not play. ... G Anthony Morrow and C/F Joffrey Lauvergne also passed physicals Friday.