Valley of the Bulls

Hinrich, Deng, Gordon trump Nash-less Suns to end trip with a win

PHOENIX -- There was a time Sunday when it looked as though the Bulls might trademark their signature second-half slide.

But the Bulls, who watched a 15-point third-quarter lead disappear, bounced back behind the trio of Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon to hand the Phoenix Suns a 116-103 loss, the first double-digit defeat the Suns have suffered this season.

''We had some trouble in the third where we couldn't get stuff going,'' said coach Scott Skiles, whose team was outscored 34-18 in the third to trail 84-79 entering the fourth. ''But we kept battling, and we got some key performances from two or three guys.''

Beginning with Hinrich, who scored 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter. Deng, whom Skiles said played one of his best games, matched Hinrich's scoring and notched his team-high 11th double-double with 12 rebounds. Gordon added 27 points to help salvage the win and a 3-4 trip.

''For a while there in the third quarter, we just weren't moving the ball and guys were doing their own thing,'' Hinrich said of the 12 minutes in which the Bulls shot 35.3 percent and committed 11 turnovers. ''Then, all of a sudden, we got some stops. The ball started moving, and we got some great looks and were knocking them down.''

The Bulls, who had lost three in a row on this trip, five in a row against the Suns and eight in a row in Phoenix, sealed the victory with an 18-4 run in just over five minutes of the fourth quarter after the game was tied at 92. Hinrich, Deng and Gordon combined for 13 of the 18 points.

''We came out with energy, but at times we got a little discombobulated,'' said the Suns' Shawn Marion, who was held to 11 points but grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds. ''We had some different lines out there that don't play together a lot, so communication wasn't where it should be.''

Especially without Steve Nash, the two-time league MVP, who missed his third consecutive game with inflammation in his right shoulder. The Suns -- who also were without starting forward Boris Diaw (back spasms) -- have missed Nash's 19.1 points and 11.8 assists per game. They're 1-2 without Nash and had to go to overtime to beat the Portland Trail Blazers.

''When Steve doesn't play, it's not the same,'' Skiles said. ''He is the style that they play. But that's why you've got to win that game.''

The Bulls were without 6-11 P.J. Brown, meaning Tyrus Thomas (nine points, three blocks) started his third game of the season. The Bulls rookie helped spark the team to the lead it held throughout the first half. Ben Wallace added 10 rebounds.

''If you would have told us when we were boarding the plane we'd be 3-4, we wouldn't have been happy with that,'' Skiles said. ''We've been in every game and could have won every game on this trip. Doesn't mean anything because we haven't. [With this win], we can get some momentum going home. We have two before the break, and who knows? The guys are still upbeat.''

bhanley@suntimes.com