Bulls try to keep playoff push alive

While the Bulls are trying to push their way into the playoffs, another prize is slipping away.

The Bulls have a vested interest in Monday's opponent, the Sacramento Kings, doing well. The Bulls get the Kings' first-round draft pick if it's not in the top 10.

There are some problems: If the season ended Sunday morning, Sacramento would be the No. 7 team in the draft lottery, so it wouldn't go to the Bulls. And the protected, conditional pick has an expiration date.

If the Kings' pick stays in the top 10 again next year, the Bulls won't get a first-rounder, but a pair of second-round selections.

The Bulls acquired the pick by trading Luol Deng to Cleveland in January, 2014. Of course, the Cavaliers didn't keep Deng, since they were able to bring back LeBron James the following summer.

Deng helped replace James by signing with Miami as a free agent. And both Cleveland and Miami are doing better than the Bulls right now.

Heading into Sunday's game at New York, the Kings were 3½ games behind the spot where their draft pick could drop to No. 11. Considering Sacramento had lost 11 of their last 13 games, there's not much hope for the Bulls getting that pick this year.

So maybe Sacramento can help the Bulls in a different way. The Bulls are desperate for victories to keep their playoff dream alive and win over the Kings would stretch their streak to three.

"It's all about getting the hot hand late going into the playoffs," Taj Gibson said after Saturday's win over Utah. "Guys understand, we just need to win a couple games, get on a nice little rhythm and everything will take care of itself."

Gibson got credit from coach Fred Hoiberg and his teammates for lighting a fire with some pointed comments at halftime.

The Bulls' defense took a significant leap Saturday. After allowing their opponents to score at least 100 points in 21 of the previous 22 games, the Bulls held the Jazz to 85. It was their best defensive performance since Jan. 23.

"I thought we were into bodies as well as we've been in a long time," Hoiberg said after the contest. "Again, we got back in transition, that's where it starts. If we can do that, we have a chance."

Hoiberg said he watched a video of defensive plays with Derrick Rose about 30 minutes before Saturday's game to offer some reminders, then later praised Rose's defensive effort.

Granted, Utah is one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, ranked 28th at 97.9 points per game. The Jazz also is playing without a true point guard for most of the game, using former Butler star Shelvin Mack for 34 of 48 minutes.

"I thought our hand pressure was good as well," Hoiberg said. "A team like Utah that runs its stuff and executes so well, you have to try to disrupt timing and I thought we did a solid job of that."

Sacramento is third in the league in offense, averaging 106.8 points, and last in defense. So it will be tougher to keep the Kings below 100 points.

But the Bulls need victories these days, low-scoring or not. None of their closest rivals played Sunday, so the Bulls remain in eighth place, percentage points ahead of Detroit and a half-game behind Indiana for seventh.

Sacramento is the third leg of a four-game homestand and after that, the Bulls will play eight of their final 12 on the road.

"We're definitely watching the standings, everybody is," Doug McDermott said. "It's motivation for us. We know if we can get in the playoffs, we feel like we could do some damage.

"I think we're fighting for a lot right now, and I think we can sneak up there higher than some people think."

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Bulls scouting report

Bulls vs. Sacramento Kings at the United Center, 7 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: ESPN 1000-AM

Outlook: The Kings are struggling badly, losing 11 of 13 games heading into Sunday's contest at New York. C DeMarcus Cousins has been putting up great numbers; he ranks fourth in the league in scoring (27.3 ppg) and fifth in rebounds (11.4). SF Rudy Gay is averaging 17.3 points, while PG Rajon Rondo leads the league in assists (11.9). Omri Casspi (ankle), Ben McLemore (finger) and Willy Cauley-Stein (illness) all missed Friday's loss in Detroit. The Bulls won in Sacramento 107-102 on Feb. 3 behind 24 points from E'Twaun Moore. The Kings have dropped five in a row at the UC since their infamous 35-point comeback victory in 2009.

Next: New York Knicks at the United Center, 7 p.m. Wednesday

- Mike McGraw