Phoenix Suns at Chicago Bulls | Preseason Opener | Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM ET | United Center, Chicago | CHSN (Chicago), KPHE (Phoenix)
Preseason basketball is a strange product. The scores don’t count, the starters play about 16 minutes, and half the fourth quarter is two-way guys fighting for a roster spot. So why am I excited? Because tonight is the first time anyone outside a practice gym sees what Tiago Splitter’s Bulls actually look like: a new coach, a No. 4 overall pick in the starting lineup, and a team that just told the world it plans to play as fast as humanly possible after finishing 31-51.
I’ve watched this team lose a lot of games the last few years. Tonight I’m watching for something different. Here’s what matters.
Game Info: Suns at Bulls
- Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- Tip-off: 7:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM in Phoenix); gates open at 5:30 PM CT
- Venue: United Center, 1901 W. Madison Street, Chicago
- TV: Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) in Chicago, KPHE in Phoenix
- Preseason records: Bulls 0-0 (first game); Suns 0-1 (lost 109-107 to Detroit on October 5)
- Odds: Suns around -140 on the moneyline, Bulls around +120, per one aggregator (lines can move, and no reliable spread or total was posted when I checked)
What Splitter Wants to See, and Why It Matters More Than the Score
Splitter has been clear about the identity he’s building: “As a young team, we’ve got to play fast… dominate the boards. We’ve got to win the possession game.” That’s not a slogan. Chicago ranked second in the NBA in pace last season, and the Bulls’ defense finished 28th, allowing 121.5 points per game. A coach who wants to run more has to defend and rebound at a level this roster hasn’t shown.
His preseason checklist is specific. He wants to see how his players “attack, handle physicality, manage one-on-one situations, execute closeouts and coordinate rotations” in live games, since that’s hard to evaluate in practice. He also wants more from Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson: “I want them being a little more aggressive dictating the offense instead of just waiting to attack.”
That last line is the tell. This is a development game with a coach who is publicly asking his young wings to be more assertive. Watch their first-quarter shot attempts and how often they push the ball themselves instead of handing it off to Josh Giddey.
The Starting Five and the Hole at Center
Splitter has confirmed four starters: Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis and rookie Caleb Wilson. The fifth spot is open because Nic Claxton, the center acquired this offseason, tweaked his hamstring and is out for the entire preseason. Zach Collins is also unavailable.
That leaves the center spot to Jalen Smith, who’s listed at 6’10” in shoes and whom Splitter calls a “4/5 hybrid” with shooting ability and rebounding. Two-way big Tobe Awaka is also in the mix, and Josh Giddey has praised him as “maybe the best offensive rebounder.” Splitter has also floated small-ball looks with long forwards like Wilson and Noa Essengue at the five.
One note of caution: Claxton’s re-evaluation date is reported inconsistently. One report has him re-checked after the final preseason game on October 16, another says October 19. I’d treat “around the end of preseason” as the safe version. Either way, he’s not playing tonight.
Caleb Wilson Is the Reason to Watch
Wilson, the No. 4 pick, impressed in Summer League, and training-camp scrimmage reports mention his three-point shooting developing. Whether he’s a future All-Star is a hot-take question for another day. The honest preseason questions are narrower: can he guard NBA bodies, does he play fast without forcing it, and does the jumper hold up against real closeouts?
If he’s good at all three tonight, the Bulls have their first genuine long-term piece in years. If he’s learning, that’s fine too. This is a rebuild year in all but name, and one season preview pegs the best case at 35-40 wins and an actual identity.
What the Suns Bring
Phoenix lost its preseason opener 109-107 in Detroit after leading 68-50 at halftime. The starters were excellent for about two quarters. Devin Booker scored 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting in just 16 minutes, and Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks each had 11. Then the bench units took over, and a 34-16 Pistons third quarter erased the lead. Phoenix’s reserves turned the ball over at an alarming rate, which head coach Jordan Ott flagged afterward.
Injuries: center Mark Williams is out with a shoulder injury and is projected to miss several months, with a possible return around February 2027. As of Monday, Ott said everyone else was good to go, but I’d check the team’s official report right before tip, since I couldn’t confirm a current-day injury report. Phoenix’s center spot is also unsettled, with Oso Ighodaro and rookie Khaman Maluach both getting looks.
The Matchups That Decide Tonight
Pace vs. turnovers. Splitter wants to run, and Phoenix’s reserves just showed they can be sped up into mistakes. If Chicago generates steals and gets into transition early, the Bulls will score. If the Bulls get sloppy themselves, running becomes a way to give the ball away faster.
Chicago’s frontcourt vs. Phoenix’s size. Without Claxton and Collins, the Bulls are thin up front against Phoenix’s centers. Rebounding is the thing Splitter says he’s built the whole approach around, so a bad night on the boards would be the most worrying outcome of the game.
Starters vs. starters, then depth vs. depth. Both teams plan to rest and rotate heavily. Splitter has said he wants to play 9 to 11 players, and Ott wants to play 9 or 10. Expect the real contest in the first 12 to 16 minutes, then a long stretch of bench lineups where roster-bubble players decide the result.
What Actually Decides It
The Suns’ second unit was the weak point last time, but they have more proven NBA rotation players than a Bulls team still building its identity, and their starters looked sharp for a half. The Bulls have the home crowd, a clean slate and the energy of a new coach.
If I’m being honest as a fan, this is a game I’m watching for process, not result. But I’ll make the pick: Phoenix’s veteran depth and the Bulls’ thin front line give the Suns a narrow edge, with Chicago’s fast, young bench keeping it close.
My Final Score Prediction: Phoenix Suns 112, Chicago Bulls 108
The post Bulls vs. Suns Game October 7th: Splitter’s Fast-Break Experiment Gets Its First Real Test, Caleb Wilson Included appeared first on UrbanMatter.
