Spectrum memories can't help Bulls in 104-101 loss
PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia 76ers returned to their old home, the Spectrum, for one more night Friday.
Before the game, Julius Erving implored the current Sixers to "take care of the Bulls like we used to."
Actually, the Bulls have fond memories of the Spectrum. After Erving retired, they won second-round playoff series against Philadelphia in 1990 and '91.
On this night, the Bulls erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but without Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen in the house, they ended up on the short end of a 104-101 loss.
"We fought back and had our opportunities again," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We just didn't execute the way we need to and didn't make plays down the stretch."
Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 20 points but had his shot blocked by Sixers center Sam Dalembert while trailing 102-101 with just under 20 seconds remaining. The block led to a lay-in by Thaddeus Young to boost the lead to 3, and Ben Gordon missed a 3-point attempt just before the final buzzer.
"It wasn't the play that we needed to run at the time," Del Negro said of Rose's blocked shot. "It was a pressured inbounds pass. We wanted to go high on the screen and roll. We didn't convert."
Young scored a career-high 31 points to lead Philadelphia, while Andre Iguodala added 25 points. For their first game at the Spectrum since 1996, the Sixers brought back legends like Erving, Moses Malone and Bobby Jones.
"When you have guys like that in the building, you can't do nothing but go out there and give them a great showing," Young said.
The Sixers played no modern music during the game, and the old arena, which opened in 1967, was not equipped with a video scoreboard.
"I liked playing in this atmosphere," Bulls center Brad Miller said. "It was pure Philly."
The Bulls trailed 82-69 after Philadelphia scored the first basket of the fourth quarter. But the visitors knocked down 5 shots from 3-point range, 2 each by Kirk Hinrich and Tim Thomas, during a 19-6 run that tied the score.
A pair of free throws by John Salmons (14 points) gave the Bulls their last lead at 96-94 with 3:11 left. The Bulls fell behind again after going scoreless for the next two minutes, but Gordon's 3-pointer tied the score at 101-101 with 36 seconds remaining.
The Bulls (29-37) lost three straight road games this week against Miami, Orlando and Philadelphia, and they face a tough home test tonight against New Orleans.
But they are holding steady in the race for eighth place in the Eastern Conference since Milwaukee and Charlotte also lost Friday.
The Bulls now trail seventh-place Philadelphia by 41/2 games.
Bulls vs. New Orleans Hornets at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Channel 9
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: The Bulls caught a break when all-star point guard Chris Paul (21.5 ppg, 11.1 apg) was out with a groin injury on Feb. 4 when they beat the Hornets in New Orleans 107-93. So tonight's game should be the first official matchup between Paul and Bulls rookie Derrick Rose. Hornets PF David West averages 20.2 ppg. The Hornets had won eight of nine heading into Friday's game in Milwaukee and are hunting for a top-four seed in the West.
Next: Boston at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday