The Chicago Bulls blew a late lead and lost 116-115 against the Phoenix Suns

The Bulls let go of the rope down the stretch.

© Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls had the win in the bag, but the Phoenix Suns took it away late, with big man Jusuf Nurkic scoring inside with 7.1 seconds left to give the Suns a 116-115 win on Wednesday night at the United Center.

The Bulls had a shot at retaking the lead, but DeMar DeRozan couldn’t pull it off, his long jumper falling way short with 3.1 ticks left on the clock as the Bulls dropped to 3-6.

Comeback falls short 💔
Back at home on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/5ihaHn3hNY

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 9, 2023

Comeback falls short

The Bulls got off to a sluggish start and trailed by as much as 18 points at 22-4. However, they found their bearings to tie the game at 57-all at halftime. The Suns got it going once again in the third and took an 88-76 lead but the Bulls countered with 16 unanswered points to surge in front, 92-88.

That set a back-and-forth battle that ended with DeRozan tying the game up at 107-all with a drive and a layup. Kevin Durant had a chance at winning the game in regulation but his jumper over Alex Caruso went awry at the fourth-quarter buzzer.

Great defense by AC to force OT 🔒@ACFresh21 | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/6QjCa26GYi

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 9, 2023

Lost the lead

The Bulls took a 115-111 lead with 1:18 to go in overtime after back-to-back three-pointers by Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso and a midrange jumper by DeRozan.

AC is in his bag.@ACFresh21 | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/XXkEGzrL5H

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 9, 2023

But it was not meant to be as wingman Keita Bates-Diop hit a triple off a Nurkic assist before the “Bosnian Beast” took matters into his own hands, driving the ball down the middle and flipping the ball up and in for what was the game-winning bucket.

Jusuf Nurkic with his 2nd game-winner of the season.

Clutch. pic.twitter.com/aLcZwS0uu8

— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) November 9, 2023

Grayson Allen led the Suns with 26 points, making a career-high eight triples. Durant had 25 points as the Suns evened their record up at 4-4. Nurkic finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds, and eight assists.

Vucevic led the Bulls with 26 points and six rebounds. DeRozan and Zach Lavine had 22 markers apiece, but the former was way off in this game, missing 14 of his 20 attempts from the field.

The Chicago Bulls should trade Zach LaVine as soon as feasible, according to the report