For Bulls, glimmer of hope ... then thud
Things were starting to look better for the Bulls on Tuesday.
But considering all the bad luck the Bulls endured in 2013, the year had an appropriate ending. While Toronto opened the fourth quarter with a 21-4 run, the Bulls shot 16.7 percent from the field in the final quarter (4 for 24).
That all led to an 85-79 comeback win for the Raptors at the United Center.
Happy New Year.
Luol Deng was back on the floor after missing nine of the previous 12 games with a sore left Achilles. His return gave the Bulls their first semblance of a healthy lineup in a long time.
Even though they've now played 20 games without Derrick Rose, this was only the second time this season the Bulls used a starting lineup of Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Jimmy Butler, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. The first time was at Toronto on Nov. 14, when Rose sat out with a bad hamstring.
“I think it's big,” coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game. “You're getting back to being at full strength. You have Jo, who's in rhythm now. Carlos and Taj (Gibson) have done a very good job all season. Jimmy's starting to get his rhythm. I think Kirk and D.J. (Augustin) are comfortable at the point. Mike Dunleavy's been solid throughout, so now we have some quality depth.”
The depth was apparent early as Dunleavy, Gibson, Augustin and Nazr Mohammed combined to score 25 of the Bulls' 42 points in the first half. Former Bulls center Brad Miller, who watched the game from the stands, could have served as honorary captain of this new bench mob.
The Bulls matched their biggest lead at 56-47 with 4:52 left in the third quarter, but it was downhill from there. Toronto turned the deficit into a 12-point lead when Patrick Patterson hit a jumper in the lane with 4:43 remaining.
“The problem you have is when guys miss an amount of time and then come back, it takes a while to get in rhythm,” Thibodeau said after the contest. “That's what opens up the inside. We had a hard time scoring.”
In the fourth quarter, it became apparent why Toronto (14-15) came in having won seven of its last 10 games. The Raptors are tough inside with center Jonas Valanciunas combining with Patterson or Amir Johnson. They also had a variety of clutch scorers step up. Patterson, Valanciunas, Greivis Vasquez and ex-Bull John Salmons scored all the points during the 21-4 run.
The Bulls' putrid shooting in the fourth quarter wasn't just a matter of being off target. They had a tough time getting good looks and couldn't finish at the rim.
“They're long, they're physical. You have to make them do their job,” Thibodeau said. “You can't drive the ball and then flip it up. We're capable of doing better. I do like some things. I think the defense is pretty good. The offense needs to get into rhythm.”
The Bulls (12-18) made one last comeback. When Butler poked the ball loose, got a return pass and turned a fastbreak layup into a 3-point play, the Bulls were within 80-75. A pair of Deng free throws made it a 3-point game with 1:24 remaining.
But while Toronto missed 3 of 4 free throws, the Bulls came up empty on their next three possessions. The Raptors finally knocked down a few foul shots and the game was over.
Thibodeau said having everyone — but Rose — back in the lineup is something to build on. That's a job for the new year.