CHI 105, PHX 103: Fantasy Fireworks: Sexton vs Booker
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Jasmine "Jazz" Porter
University Student ยท Oklahoma City Thunder fan
Bulls Steal One in Phoenix, Collin Sexton Goes Absolutely Nuclear
105-103. That's all that matters here. The Chicago Bulls just walked out of Phoenix with a W, and Collin Sexton is the reason we're even talking about it.
This was the kind of game where one guy just decides he's not losing. Sexton went off for 30 points on 11-19 shooting, added 5 assists and 2 steals, and finished with 46.1 Yahoo FP. That's +15.6 points over his season average. You don't see that kind of explosion from a 14.4 PPG guy very often, and it's the sort of performance that makes you wonder if something clicked or if this was just one of those perfect storm nights where everything fell.
Let's look at the real story though. The Suns got beat by the Bulls' role players stepping up when it mattered.
Top Fantasy Performers
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collin Sexton | 52.0 | 46.1 | 30/3/5 | 14.4/2.0/3.4 | +15.6 |
| Devin Booker | 40.0 | 42.2 | 27/6/2 | 24.6/4.0/6.0 | +2.4 |
| Tre Jones | 46.0 | 40.7 | 21/6/5 | 12.3/2.9/5.5 | +8.7 |
| Grayson Allen | 37.0 | 36.4 | 21/2/8 | 17.6/3.1/4.1 | +3.4 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 37.0 | 31.8 | 10/9/4 | 5.9/4.8/2.0 | +4.1 |
| Nick Richards | 27.0 | 30.7 | 9/11/1 | 4.9/4.5/0.3 | +4.1 |
| Ryan Dunn | 30.0 | 29.7 | 6/11/1 | 5.9/4.3/1.5 | +0.1 |
| Guerschon Yabusele | 27.0 | 28.2 | 16/6/2 | 4.7/3.1/0.8 | +11.3 |
| Jalen Green | 13.0 | 22.1 | 12/3/3 | 13.4/3.0/2.1 | -1.4 |
| Lachlan Olbrich | 18.0 | 19.2 | 4/6/2 | 1.3/2.2/0.8 | +2.7 |
The Bench Heroes
Grayson Allen was a problem all night, finishing with 36.4 Yahoo FP on 21 points, 8 assists, and 5 threes. He's been getting added a ton (up 1.5% ownership to 52.7%), and honestly, I get it. He shot 6-19 but those five threes matter, and the assist production was legit. If he can be a consistent secondary playmaker for the Suns, that's useful depth.
But the real MVP might have been Guerschon Yabusele for the Bulls. The man dropped 16/6 with 3 threes and was +11.3 over his season average. He's a 4.7 PPG guy who just went for 28.2 Yahoo FP. That's a monster upside play, and if Josh Giddey is dealing with anything, Yabusele could keep eating.
Tre Jones also showed up huge with 40.7 Yahoo FP on 21/6/5. That's +8.7 over his average, and it came in just 28 minutes. Not sure if that's a workload thing or if he was just in rhythm, but his assist production was clean.
Where the Suns Fumbled
Devin Booker hit 42.2 Yahoo FP but it wasn't explosive. He was only +2.4 over his average on 9-21 shooting. For a reigning All-NBA first team guy, you expect more punch when your team is fighting for a close win. He was efficient from three (2-3) and perfect from the line (7-7), but 27 points on 21 shots against a Bulls team that came in as underdogs is leaving points on the table.
Oso Ighodaro was the bright spot on the Suns' bench, though. 31.8 Yahoo FP on 10/9/4 in 36 minutes is solid work, especially the rebounding volume. He's +4.1 over his average and getting real run, which matters for a bench big in Phoenix.
The Waiver Wire Takeaway
Grayson Allen's ownership bump makes sense. He's at 52.7% now, so he's already pretty widely owned, but if you're in a shallow league and he's available, grab him. The three-point volume and assist numbers give him NBA consistency even on nights when the overall offense isn't flowing.
Nick Richards put up 30.7 Yahoo FP for the Bulls on 9/11/1, and while that's a rebound-heavy line, he was 2-2 from the field and went 5-10 from the line. He's getting decent minutes (29), and if the Bulls stick with this rotation, there's some grab-and-go upside.
Real Talk
This was a two-point game decided by bench production and one guy (Sexton) having the best night of his season. Don't get too caught up in Sexton's 46 Yahoo FP and think he's suddenly a 40-point guy every night. He's still a 14.4 PPG player. But don't sleep on him either, because he clearly has this gear, and if the Bulls keep finding ways to get him rhythm looks, the upside is there.
The Suns? They lost by two on their home court. That stings, but Booker and company will bounce back. This isn't a panic moment. But if you're looking at waiver moves, Grayson Allen should stay on your radar, and Yabusele just proved he can go off when the minutes line up.
One more thing: mad respect to Sexton for closing this one out. That's the kind of performance that wins championship weeks in fantasy.