[bears9]

PHOENIX -- Coach Scott Skiles started with a change in his starting lineup, but the result Thursday was more of the same for the Bulls. They are now 1-6 after losing 112-102 to the Phoenix Suns in the first of six consecutive road games.
After the Bulls erased a 15-point deficit in the second half, the Suns went on a 9-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to break open a close game.

As expected, Skiles tabbed Andres Nocioni as the starting power forward in place of Tyrus Thomas. Skiles had hoped Nocioni's jump shooting would open up the floor for struggling starters Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng. Skiles said he talked to Thomas before the game to make sure the second-year forward knew the lineup change was not a specific reflection of his play.
''One way to possibly get them going is to get them a little more space out there to operate,'' Skiles said before the game. ''Noce helps us with that. We're just hoping that some more space out there will loosen everybody up and get a couple guys to have a big game. The other part is Tyrus has played well with Joe Smith. So we're thinking we may get a lift out of the second unit, too.''
Turned out it wasn't until Skiles sat Nocioni, Hinrich and starting center Ben Wallace that the Bulls made their first sustained run.
A smaller, more athletic lineup of Thomas, Deng, Chris Duhon, Smith and Gordon went on an 11-2 run that turned a 17-8 Suns lead into a 20-19 Bulls advantage with 2:05 left in the first quarter, after which the Bulls trailed 26-22.

New lineup, same story