Too many mistakes doom Bulls
Credit Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich for producing valiant efforts in the absence of John Salmons, who sat out Tuesday night's game in Indiana with a groin strain.
Rose played 40 minutes but pushed the tempo relentlessly and finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
Hinrich banged heads with Pacers forward Danny Granger a minute into the game, came back with a bandage over his eye and produced 20 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 39 minutes.
But it didn't mean a thing because the Bulls made too many mistakes down the stretch and lost 107-105. With two winnable games in their grasp on this brief road trip, the Bulls couldn't finish a comeback in Toronto, then couldn't hold a lead at Indianapolis.
There were a couple of spots where the Bulls lost Tuesday's game.
They had three chances to build a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but Rose - still bothered by the bruised wrist - missed an open lay-in, Hinrich took a quick 3-pointer that didn't fall, and Brad Miller threw away a pass.
Then after Tyrus Thomas' lob dunk sent the Bulls ahead 103-96 with 3:46 left, they didn't score again until Ben Gordon hit a tying jumper with 38 seconds remaining.
The scoreless stretch included 2 missed free throws by Hinrich, while the Bulls failed to snare a couple of vital defensive rebounds, including one that set up T.J. Ford's game-winner with 3.9 seconds left.
Rose stays off line: The Bulls had plenty of chances to put this one away, but it seems as though most every narrow loss this season includes at least one surprising no-call on a Rose drive to the basket.
The Bulls led 103-100 with 21/2 minutes left when Ford reached in from behind and pulled Rose's left arm away from the ball, which fell off his knee and went out of bounds. Ford was credited with a blocked shot despite never touching the ball.
In the final six minutes, Indiana went 9-for-10 from the foul line, while the Bulls were 0-for-2. Rose attempted 21 field goals and 1 free throw. Not much he can do at this point besides hope the probationary period ends next season.
Feeling the Bobcat breath: Technically, the Bulls (36-40) still are in eighth place. But at this point they do not control their own destiny because the Bulls and Michael Jordan's Bobcats both have 40 losses and Charlotte already has clinched the season series by winning twice at home. Seventh-place Detroit has 38 losses.
If the Bulls take care of business at home, they shouldn't have any problem making the playoffs. They play five of their last six games at the United Center and now have three days off for Salmons to get healthy.
Charlotte plays six of its final eight on the road, beginning Wednesday night in Boston. Detroit plays five of eight away from home, including a trip to New Jersey on Wednesday night. The Bulls host the Bobcats on April 11 and visit the Pistons two days later.