Bulls @ Suns Thursday Game Thread, 3-5-2026

[BooksOrangePlanet]

after a road win against sacramento your phoenix suns are back at it thursday night at home against the chicago bulls - this will be the first night of a back to back with phx facing the pelicans on friday (also at home)

suns are now 35-26 - we still remain the 7th seed but things are looking up

chi-town is 25-37 and lost to okc tonight - da bulls have lost 9 out of their last 10 contests - trap game warning is in effect

location: mortgage matchup center, phx

when: thursday, march 5th, 2026

television: arizona's family 3tv / arizona's family sports / nba league pass

time: 7:00 pm arizona time

radio: kmvp 98.7 / ksun

 

[Mainstreet]

Mark Williams among the usual, Brooks and Goodwin, is OUT against the Bulls.

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[Mainstreet]

Maybe Khaman will get some minutes against Chicago.

 

[clyde2tw]

Mark Williams among the usual, Brooks and Goodwin, is OUT against the Bulls.

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I guess the unusually high number of minutes played left trace of wear on MW. He's been supbar for quite a few games lately. Many TOs in last game involved passing to him.

 

[Mainstreet]

I guess the unusually high number of minutes played left trace of wear on MW. He's been supbar for quite a few games lately. Many TOs in last game involved passing to him.

I'm not sure what is going on with Williams because the Suns were coming off like a 5 day break. He should be refreshed.

Williams is playing for a new contract so he might be pushing himself.

 

[Carolinacacti]

I'm not sure what is going on with Williams because the Suns were coming off like a 5 day break. He should be refreshed.

Williams is playing for a new contract so he might be pushing himself.

He is a nice rim protector that can dunk and hit free throws. Not much else to like Imo.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Maybe Khaman will get some minutes against Chicago.

i think this our first game without both williams and richards - we are officially on maluwatch

 

[Adrian]

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[Covert Rain]

He is a nice rim protector that can dunk and hit free throws. Not much else to like Imo.

I will take that in a center everyday and twice on Sunday if that's all he does. We have seen how it can impact the entire team when you don't....see Ayton.

 

[Carolinacacti]

I will take that in a center everyday and twice on Sunday if that's all he does. We have seen how it can impact the entire team when you don't....see Ayton.

How much to you pay for that?

 

[Covert Rain]

How much to you pay for that?

Good question. I have not looked up the market but you definitely pay market. Before Ayton this team searched for years and years for a center. Even traded for an over the hill Shaq. Then they tried drafting one in Ayton. Guys like Williams don't grow on trees. It's not a coincidence this team looks completely different after dumping Ayton and getting Williams.

I can't count how many times on these forums we would be frustrated with Ayton not grabbing a rebound or dunking the ball or slow walking it back on defense. Williams is the opposite of that. Just ask the Lakers. IMO, the two guys this team needs to figure out how to keep is Williams and Gillespie.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

jalen green missed so much time the team grew and learned how to play without him - when he was finally able to go ott brought him off the bench and it took a good minute for the flow to grow organically but it never really got a chance to ripen

not with book grayson and dillon being out - green was suddenly inserted into the starting lineup and asked to be the primary bucket getter

jalen green went from taking it chill to taking the freaking wheel - it was awkward as new things often are in the beginning - but that too never got a chance to ripen - not with book and grayson's return

pointbook has a lot on his shoulders - he has to draw double teams - he has to draw fouls to get teams over the limit - but most of all he has to score so he can distribute the ball

this isn't the chicken or the egg - we know what came first - it was devin scoring - then came the double team - then came the ball movement

adding kd messed all that up - book never got to accomplish all the important team ball aspects he brings - book needs to control the game - now enter jalen green...

idk how this scoring combo is going to work but i think it eventually will - it wasn't working against the kings but ott didn't deviate - even brought back at the end and made them tough it out when our bench could've easily handled the task - our bench kicks ass

my guess is jalen will start of course but I don't know how much ott is going to run the two of them together - plus the lineup of gillespie green dunn fleming oso is oso good!

edit - forgot to mention the defense jalen played against sacramento - best game yet

 

[mjb21aztd]

Bulls 1 of my other top teams biggg mj fan from back in day ) l ol the good space jam heh

Hopin right suns roster shows up

Riseeee up suns!!

420 stress flower at the rdy )

 

[Adrian]

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[BooksOrangePlanet]

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im pretty damn excited about this - everybody wants to see how he's going to perform - can't wait

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

OMG GUYS - PLOT TWIST - WE (or atleast me) FORGOT NICK RICHARDS IS ON THE BULLS NOW - AVERAGING AROUND 25 MINUTES A GAME OVER THE LAST 5 GAMES

WHO HAD MANMAN'S NBA DEBUT BEING AGAINST NICK RICHARDS ON THEIR BINGO CARD

 

[Covert Rain]

OMG GUYS - PLOT TWIST - WE (or atleast me) FORGOT NICK RICHARDS IS ON THE BULLS NOW - AVERAGING AROUND 25 MINUTES A GAME OVER THE LAST 5 GAMES

WHO HAD MANMAN'S NBA DEBUT BEING AGAINST NICK RICHARDS ON THEIR BINGO CARD

HA! Not me. I for one would have rather kept Richards over ManMan for this exact scenario. I am curious to see how this matchup plays out though. Let's go!

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

HA! Not me. I for one would have rather kept Richards over ManMan for this exact scenario. I am curious to see how this matchup plays out though. Let's go!

richards will no doubt win the match up - this year - but we're playing the long game

 

[Carolinacacti]

Good question. I have not looked up the market but you definitely pay market. Before Ayton this team searched for years and years for a center. Even traded for an over the hill Shaq. Then they tried drafting one in Ayton. Guys like Williams don't grow on trees. It's not a coincidence this team looks completely different after dumping Ayton and getting Williams.

I can't count how many times on these forums we would be frustrated with Ayton not grabbing a rebound or dunking the ball or slow walking it back on defense. Williams is the opposite of that. Just ask the Lakers. IMO, the two guys this team needs to figure out how to keep is Williams and Gillespie.

I think you can get one in the second round but the Suns have no draft picks. Suns are going to lose Grayson and Royce next year unless they trade Green or Book

 

[leclerc]

Hope we keep at least one of them (Rolls Royce or Allen) in addition to Gillespie and Mark Williams.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think you can get one in the second round but the Suns have no draft picks. Suns are going to lose Grayson and Royce next year unless they trade Green or Book

Is that a given? Because I thought since they were under the 2nd Apron this year, the penalties don't apply to us next year. So, if they wanted to be over the 1st after the year is over they could do so if Ishbia is willing to spend the money to keep Grayson. Royce? I figured he would be gone.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think you can get one in the second round but the Suns have no draft picks. Suns are going to lose Grayson and Royce next year unless they trade Green or Book

Achiuwa was there for the taking as a free agent earlier this season. If the Suns kick some rocks over, they can find one.

 

[Covert Rain]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo. He is going to be out until then. We will be without Brooks and Williams for multiple weeks. HUGE BLOW to the Suns.

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[BooksOrangePlanet]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo. He is going to be out until then. We will be without Brooks and Williams for multiple weeks. HUGE BLOW to the Suns.

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wow - that makes oso the starter and we'll see plenty of manman - starting unit will be fine over time but losing oso is going to effect our bench big time

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

just wow