The Chicago Bulls opened preseason with a 124-117 win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, and Caleb Wilson’s first taste of NBA action came with a built-in test. He didn’t just get his feet wet - he had to deal with Dillon Brooks.
Wilson finished with a team-high 15 points, along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists, but the matchup with Brooks made the night more than just a solid debut. According to Ross Pins of Swish Theory, Brooks repeatedly got the better of Wilson, at times forcing him into turnaround jumpers that ended up as airballs.
That was part of the lesson, Bulls coach Tiago Splitter said.
“He wanted to prove something to Caleb, and he learned a great lesson from him,” Splitter said to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Sports Network. “The way this league is, aggressive.”
Brooks played like a man looking to make a point all night. He exchanged words with Matas Buzelis and Buddy Hield at one stage and finished with a game-high 24 points, plus 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Still, Chicago’s night was about more than one rookie learning on the fly. Seven Bulls scored in double figures, a sign the group found some rhythm together.
Buzelis put up 14 points and 3 rebounds. Norman Powell also scored 14 and knocked down 3 3-pointers.
Tobe Awaka added 14 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Leonard Miller chipped in 14 points, including 2 3-pointers.
Jalen Smith contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Dailyn Swain finished with 10 points and 6 assists.
The Bulls will be back in action Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:00 pm CST/8:00 pmm EST.
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The Bulls opened their 2026-27 preseason with a win over the Suns, and there were enough encouraging signs to leave the building feeling better than when they arrived. Caleb Williams and Matas Buzelis each flashed in their own way, giving Chicago some early evidence that individual talent is there as the roster starts to take shape around a new identity.
Still, the first tune-up also underlined the part the front office has spent the summer talking about most: physicality. Phoenix made the game uncomfortable with its defensive pressure and strength around the basket, and Chicago did not always handle that edge cleanly. For a team that has been selling toughness as a roster-building principle, the next few preseason games may tell us whether that idea is already translating or whether the Bulls still have some adjustments to make. [Read more 🡒]
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Bulls Rotation Questions Are Already Mounting After Preseason Opener
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The frontcourt picture was just as unsettled. Injuries to Nic Claxton and Zach Collins pushed Jalen Smith into the starting center spot, while two-way rookie Tobe Awaka handled the backup minutes and made the most of the chance with 14 points and 11 rebounds. For a team trying to sort out roles before the games start to count, the opener offered a useful reminder that the Bulls may need multiple answers up front if those absences linger. [Read more 🡒]