Alex Caruso drove Kevin Durant crazy for the last eight minutes of the Chicago Bulls’ Wednesday night loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Throughout the whole game, the guard hovered over Durant, nudging and prodding him to prevent him from getting into a rhythmic scoring groove in the closing minutes. When Durant had one more chance to win the game with seconds remaining, Caruso hung all over him, forcing him to shoot an unbalanced shot that clanked against the rim and forced overtime.

With 25 points in the end, Durant was almost five points below his season average. However, Durant only managed four points in the game’s last two frames, which is evidence of Caruso’s neutralizing influence.

It’s his mindset, Durant remarked. He is a dedicated worker who will exert all of his effort. He is a terrific player. He’s the kind of player you can plug into any lineup and trust to make the correct reads and plays, both on defense and offense. I wouldn’t even go so far as to say role player. He is a blessing to the Bulls.

Usually, Caruso saves the day for the Bulls on defense by forcing mistakes and smothering players with high scoring potential like Durant. On Wednesday, though, his offense made up for a strong overall performance.

Caruso scored three straight 3-pointers to start a 14-3 surge in the first quarter that helped the Bulls overcome an 18-point hole. And he finished 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in overtime, demonstrating his sustained proficiency at long range shooting. In the fourth quarter, Caruso demonstrated his ability to create plays by imitating an inside pass and then rolling the ball into the hoop with his fingers.

Caruso finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocked shots, which was indicative of his diversified impact on the game.

Caruso, though, was unable to force the Bulls to triumph. The Suns narrowly defeated Chicago with a victory after Jusuf Nurkić made the game-winning basket with seven seconds remaining in overtime.

Six other lessons from the loss are as follows:

1. In the first half, the Bulls overcame a double-digit disadvantage.

The Bulls on Wednesday quickly found themselves in a difficult situation. The Suns led the way early in the contest, 22-4. Grayson Allen’s second 3-pointer of the game put the Bulls trailing by eighteen points within the first six minutes of action.

The Bulls got off to a slow start, but when Caruso entered the game around the end of the first quarter, they began to click. After Caruso made three straight 3-pointers to start a 14-3 run, the Bulls were able to close the gap to 36-28 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Bulls’ starting lineup regained the lead. Nine points, including a 3-pointer, were scored by Coby White. DeMar DeRozan scored six points despite drawing three shooting fouls. Additionally, Nikola Vučević added eight points by creating space in the paint.

The Bulls had been behind the whole half, but Vučević’s hook shot with two seconds remaining tied the game, and the teams went into halftime even.

2. Results of turnovers were defined as good and negative.

The Bulls took advantage of errors to get back into the game. For the second straight game, they had Phoenix cough up the ball 21 times and took advantage of turnovers to score 30 points. Twelve steals were made by the whole team, with three apiece from White and Caruso.

However, in the closing minutes of a heated game, turnovers also proved to be the Bulls’ undoing. In the last minute of regular and again in overtime, the Bulls turned the ball over twice. Against the Suns, those turnovers were too costly, giving them enough of a cushion to lose by one point.

3. Zach LaVine had trouble on the court in all areas.

LaVine struggled for the Bulls throughout the game on Wednesday even though he scored 22 points. He was regularly let to go by guards on backdoor cutters, and in the first quarter, he was called for a defensive 3-second violation.

LaVine was 3-for-6 from behind the arc, but he was unable to seal shots in crucial situations. LaVine missed one opportunity to tie the game in the last minute of regulation, and with forty-five seconds remaining, he mishandled the ball off his thigh, resulting in a turnover. He finished with three turnovers overall and failed to score in overtime.

4. The 3-point arc levels out

Following a chilly beginning to the season, the Bulls’ 3-point shooting is starting to stabilize.

Two nights after shooting 52.9% from beyond the arc against the Utah Jazz, the squad shot 14-for-33 (42.4%) from beyond the arc. While White went 1-for-5 and Torrey Craig went 0-for-2 from 3-point range, the remaining players who attempted at least one shot shot above 40% from beyond the arc. With four 3-pointers, Caruso led the Bulls, while LaVine added three as well.

The Bulls’ 27 attempts in regulation time were still rather close to their average from the previous season, even though they attempted six 3-pointers in the overtime period.

5. Bradley Beal showed up back in court

Following his absence from the first seven games of the season due to a back injury, Bradley Beal made his Suns debut in Chicago on Wednesday. He had a minute restriction while playing, and in 23 minutes, he scored 13 points. Because Beal spent the most of his time on the backup unit, the Bulls were able to trap the guard and prevent him from getting the ball in his hands. In overtime, he did not play at all.

Because of a right calf tightness, Devin Booker was unable to play for the Suns on Wednesday.

6. Grayson Allen made the arc bright.

Allen isn’t very popular inside the United Center following his altercations with Caruso and DeRozan during the previous two seasons. However, he also has a habit of matching baskets made with baskets missed, which he carried over on Wednesday.

Allen set a career record in 3-pointers made in a single game by going 8 for 13 from outside the arc. His 26 points, which led the team, were essential for Phoenix to stave off a Bulls rally.