Bulls' act is getting old
Another Bulls game ended with a stunning fourth-quarter collapse, booing fans and a delirious visiting team dancing across the court at the United Center.
The best thing to be said about Saturday's 108-101 loss to the Indiana Pacers was that it wasn't the Bulls' worst late-game performance of the season. It might rank in the top three.
The home team led by 13 points with 9:54 remaining, then were up 95-90 with 4:40 left before the long distance-dialing Pacers exploded for a 13-2 run that turned the tide completely.
"We seem to just get into the fourth quarter and just get stuck," coach Jim Boylan said. "We can't seem to find the movement and the shots and then when we do, I think we're pressing a little bit. Sometimes those shots that are coming easy in the first three quarters are becoming more difficult for us."
This was the second time in eight days that the Bulls (27-42) squandered a double-digit lead in the final quarter. A couple of missed shots could be submitted as evidence that the Bulls' fourth-quarter failures are getting into their heads.
Leading 95-92, Luol Deng missed from point-blank range. Then with the Bulls ahead 95-94, Ben Gordon ignored an open Deng on the baseline and got a nice look from 14 feet, but clanged it off the front rim.
"I don't know how else to explain it," said Kirk Hinrich, who returned from a sprained ankle to dish 10 assists. "Every time we get a lead, we stop doing the things that got us that lead and we've coughed a bunch of them up."
Indiana took its first lead of the second half at 96-95 on a long fadeaway by second-year forward Shawne Williams with 2:58 left.
Drew Gooden put the Bulls back in front with a reverse layin, then the Pacers delivered a quick combination the Bulls never saw coming. First, Williams buried a corner 3-pointer to send the visitors ahead with 2:06 left.
While the Bulls missed a couple of quick shots, Mike Dunleavy scored on a driving bank and Danny Granger dropped in a turnaround. All of the sudden, Indiana was in command at 103-97 with 1:20 left.
The Pacers use an unusual lineup, sending four players at least 6-feet-8 onto the floor with guard Travis Diener down the stretch. Indiana outscored the Bulls 39-6 from the 3-point arc. The Pacers knocked down 13 of 26 attempts from long range, while the Bulls were a measly 2 for 9.
The loss sent the Bulls 3 games behind Atlanta for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but do play the Hawks twice next week. Indiana (29-41) is now tied with New Jersey for ninth place.
Frustration continued to boil over for the Bulls when Andres Nocioni argued with Boylan after being removed from the game in the second quarter. Nocioni was later sent to the locker room and didn't play again.
"The season is not over for us," Boylan said. "There's no one cashing it in. There's no one quitting. Everyone's just going to keep working and we can still work our way back into this thing."