After second quarter diaster, Bulls can't rally past Heat
The Bulls' loss to Miami did have one happy ending on Friday.
When the game was over, Chicago native Dwyane Wade walked over to Bears star Khalil Mack and handed over an autographed jersey as photographers crowded around like it was a scene from "Jerry McGuire."
Wade didn't sign the jersey he wore during the Heat's 103-96 victory. He happened to have one of those Miami Vice-inspired city versions handy. Mack sat courtside at the United Center a day after the Bears won in Detroit.
There was nearly a surprise ending for the Bulls on this night. After falling behind by 26 points during a dismal second quarter, they closed within 4 points on a few occasions, but couldn't finish off the rally.
The second quarter was as unpleasant as any the Bulls have had this season. They missed their first 9 shots with 5 turnovers, while Miami scored nearly every trip down the floor.
"That second quarter was a disaster," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "It was tough to recover from, but everybody was into it."
After being outscored 32-13 in the second quarter, the Bulls made an effort to turn the tables in the third. A guard tandem of Ryan Arcidiacono and Shaq Harrison helped pick up the defensive pressure. Jabari Parker (23 points, 10 rebounds) got going after a rough first half and Justin Holiday (27 points, 13 rebounds) had one of his better games with the Bulls.
The Bulls closed within 81-77 with 8:52 left when Parker hit 2 free throws after Wade air-balled a 3-pointer. But it never got closer as Miami guard Josh Richardson (27 points) couldn't miss down the stretch.
One thing that might have helped the Bulls' cause was having rookie center Wendell Carter Jr. on the floor for more than 14 minutes. But he ran into foul trouble early and often once again. Carter has played in all 19 games this season, but has hit 30 minutes just four times.
"I always give credit to the refs," Carter said. "I feel like they have the most important job in the game, because calls can definitely swing momentum throughout the game and I feel like they're human too, they're not going to make correct calls all the time.
"At the end of the day, I've just got to pick and choose when I should foul, when I shouldn't foul, when I should just let it go. I feel like it's just a learning process right now."
Carter has been getting fouls in a variety of ways. Sometimes he's contesting a shot, but he's also getting called for illegal screens and loose ball fouls. One in Friday's game was on a trap 30 feet from the basket.
Anyone who's watched the NBA regularly knows referees have a strong tendency to pick on rookies, especially the ones that talk back to the refs, which Carter doesn't do often. When Carter was asked if he feels like a victim of "rookie calls," teammate Zach LaVine yelled across the locker room, "Don't answer that."
Carter laughed, but continued his diplomatic approach.
"I don't really think it's rookie calls, I think it's me learning how to defend and how to do everything without fouling," he said.
"I feel like if I was in, if I was able to provide for my team on the court, I feel like things would have went a lot differently. We cut it down to four at one point, we had it going."
The Bulls are low on forwards, with rookie Chandler Hutchison missing his second straight game due to back spasms. Miami tried to stay big, using two of Hassan Whiteside, Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk frequently. Robin Lopez also got 3 fouls in the first half, but managed to score 9 points in 25 minutes.
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls
Scouting report
Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7 p.m. at the Target Center
TV: WGN • Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: The Timberwolves have won four of six games since trading Jimmy Butler to Philadelphia, but still have the second-worst record in the West at 8-11. ... Center Karl Anthony Towns leads Minnesota with 20.0 points and 11.9 rebounds, but Derrick Rose isn't far behind, averaging 19 points while shooting 46 percent from 3-point range. SF Andrew Wiggins is averaging 17.1 points, with newcomer Robert Covington at 14.5. Ex-Bull Taj Gibson is his usual self, starting all 18 games and averaging 10.8 points. ... The Bulls split two games with the Timberwolves last season, but have dropped the last three in Minnesota.
Next: San Antonio Spurs, 7 p.m. Monday at the United Center
- Mike McGraw