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DeAndre Ayton, Devin Booker dominate, Suns top Bulls 112-104

CHICAGO (AP) - Disappointed he didn't make a bigger impact the previous night against the defending champions, DeAndre Ayton sure made his presence felt against the Bulls.

Ayton dominated with 28 points and 19 rebounds, Devin Booker had 29 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Chicago Bulls 112-104 on Saturday night.

Phoenix outscored Chicago by 13 in the third quarter to wipe out a 10-point halftime deficit and ended the game on a 17-4 run to come away with the win after losing seven of nine. The Bulls dropped their eighth in a row.

Ayton wasn't thrilled with his performance in a 118-101 loss at Toronto on Friday. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds in that one after missing the final two games before the All-Star break because of a sore left ankle.

Against the Bulls, he simply took over - particularly down the stretch.

Ayton had 12 points and eight rebounds in the fourth quarter and just missed season highs in scoring (31) and rebounding (21).

'œIt's one thing when you hear it from coaches - Am I doing the right thing,'ť he said. 'œBut it's another thing hearing it from your teammates, (who) you see everyday and laugh and joke around with and goof around. You know when to get serious. ... I just woke up. Mental toughness, to be honest.'ť

The Suns would like to see more of that.

'œThat's a monster night,'ť coach Monty Williams said. "I told him we need him to play with that disposition every night.'ť

Booker made 5 of 10 from beyond the arc in another solid showing in Chicago. The guard placed second to Sacramento's Buddy Hield in the 3-point contest and made his first All-Star appearance last weekend in Chicago.

Ricky Rubio added 18 points and 11 assists, and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 14 points to help the Suns snap a five-game road losing streak.

Bulls rookie Coby White set a career high with 33 points and matched one by making seven 3-pointers. Zach LaVine scored 20 points. But he also committed seven of Chicago's season-worst 26 turnovers.

'œIt felt great,'ť White said. "I was having fun. It would have a lot more fun if we could have come out with the win.'ť

FINAL RUN

Chicago led 96-95 when Phoenix's Cameron Johnson made a 3 with 6:30 left to give the Suns a 98-86 lead, sparking the game-ending run.

Mikal Bridges and Booker each made a pair of free throws to push the lead to 11 in the closing minute.

LaVine dunked, before Rubio hit 1 of 2 foul shots with 30 seconds left to make it 112-102. Chicago's Ryan Arcidiacano then made two free throws for a final score that left fans showering the Bulls with boos.

CALLING TIME

Bulls coach Jim Boylen has annoyed opponents by calling timeouts late in games that were out of hand. He did it again with 30 seconds left, and LaVine appeared agitated when he was caught on camera.

'œHe hasn't said a word to me about it agitating him,'ť Boylen said. 'œI don't know if you're reading his mind on that or are you just making an assumption that's what he was upset about?'ť

LaVine insisted he and Boylen are 'œgood." He said he's frustrated about losing. As for the late timeouts?

'œThat's what he do,'ť LaVine said. "I don't know what to tell you? I'm not the coach. He told me he likes working on things that we do in practice and things like that. He's the coach; he can call time out if he wants to.'ť

TIP-INS

Suns: The Suns were basically at full strength, though C Frank Kaminsky (right knee stress fracture) missed his 24th game in a row. Kaminsky, who's from the Chicago area, is Bulls assistant coach Karen Umlauf's nephew.

Bulls: The Bulls made 14 of 38 3-pointers, after missing their first 17 in a 7-of-31 performance against Charlotte two nights earlier. ... C Luke Kornet (ankle) was unavailable.

UP NEXT

Suns: At Utah on Monday night.

Bulls: Host Washington on Sunday night.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Chicago Bulls forward/center Cristiano Felicio, center, rebounds a ball against Phoenix Suns guard Ty Jerome, left, and center Aron Baynes during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. reacts after scoring during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
Chicago Bulls coach Jim Boylen calls his team during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, right, looks to the basket against Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. The Suns won 112-104. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr., left, reacts as he dunks against Chicago Bulls forward/center Cristiano Felicio during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen looks up the scoreboard during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
Chicago Bulls forward Daniel Gafford, right, reacts after missing a pass during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. The Suns won 112-104. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker looks to pass the ball during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. The Suns won 112-104. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press
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