Carlos Boozer scored a season-high 31 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a decisive 118-97 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

C.J. Watson added a season-best 23 points for Chicago, which played without reigning MVP Derrick Rose (toe) for the second consecutive game.

Steve Nash had 25 points and nine assists for Phoenix, which lost its fifth straight contest.

The Bulls scored 39 first-quarter points and blew the game open in the second quarter when Boozer scored eight points during a 12-0 run that saw Chicago take a 61-41 advantage with 2:49 left in the half.

The Bulls led 96-68 entering the fourth quarter.

Robin Lopez scored 16 points for Phoenix, while Marcin Gortat had 14 points and 15 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double.

Luol Deng scored 15 points and Joakim Noah had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Chicago. Richard Hamilton returned from a groin injury to score 11 points in 21 minutes.

Watson started in place of Rose, who has missed three of Chicago’s last five contests because of the ailing left big toe. The Bulls opted to hold Rose out of the lineup to give him some extra rest because the Bulls are off the next two nights before visiting the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.