Bulls suffer another late-game collapse
The Bulls received relatively good news about Jimmy Butler on Saturday.
After the Bulls' top scorer was carted off the floor with a left knee injury the previous night in Denver, an MRI exam showed a strain. He returned to Chicago for further evaluation and the Bulls offered no timetable for how long he'll be out.
It was a relief to know there was no structural damage or torn ligaments in Butler's knee. So that was the good news.
When the Bulls took the floor against the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was a familiar story. The game seemed to be going well for the Bulls, but took a wrong turn late. Minnesota finished the game on a 12-0 run and beat the Bulls 112-105 at the Target Center.
Forward Mike Dunleavy made his season debut after recovering from back surgery. Pau Gasol returned from a one-game absence due to a hand injury and led the Bulls with 25 points.
"That's the theme of this trip, is finding a way to close out games," coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after the game. "You've just got to keep working at it. That's what I said, 'Collectively everybody in this (locker) room, we've got to find a way to close out games.'
"You keep working it, you put the ball in your playmaker's hands and you try to go out and get good shots and good looks. We got some good shots where we wanted. (They) just didn't go down."
Butler has been the Bulls' best playmaker this season, so not having him on the floor clearly hurt. But just as they did against Utah and Denver earlier this week, the Bulls seemed to have this one under control.
They led 105-100 with 2:55 left after a pair of Rose free throws. The Bulls even got the ball back with the 5-point lead, but nothing worked for the visitors the rest of the way.
A Rose jumper, Rose runner, Gasol post-up attempt, E'Twaun Moore 3-pointer, followed by pair of Gasol 3-point tries - they all missed.
On the other end, Minnesota used 4 free throws to pull within 1, then second-year forward Andrew Wiggins took over, with a post turn over Moore, a lay in off a pass from Gorgui Dieng and a 20-foot pullup jumper. Tack on a Dieng breakaway dunk and the Timberwolves finished off a 12-0 run in just six possessions.
"I don't think it was a lack of following the game plan," Hoiberg said. "They went to Wiggins. We had a smaller guy on him. Obviously Jimmy is missed in those situations."
The three late-game collapses had their own characteristics. Against Utah, Rose hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 18.5 seconds left, but the Bulls couldn't rebound a missed free throw and lost in overtime.
On Friday in Denver, the Bulls entered the fourth quarter with a 16-point lead and were outscored 42-21.
The absence of late-game scoring has been a problem throughout the year. Butler and Rose have had some clutch moments, but the Bulls have gone ice cold a number of times with the outcome in doubt.
Recently, the defense has really slipped. Saturday's closing lineup of Rose, Moore, Gasol, Bobby Portis and Doug McDermott didn't inspire much defensive confidence.
The Bulls were outrebounded 45-31. Minnesota's two big men had monster games. Dieng piled up 24 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists, while rookie Karl Anthony Towns added 26 points and 17 rebounds.
Rose finished with 18 points and a season-high 10 assists. Dunleavy scored 5 points in 14 minutes.
The Bulls, now 2-4 on the ice show road trip, have one last stop on Monday at Charlotte.
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