CHICAGO -- The Bulls didn’t gain any ground in the playoff race, but of more importance, with the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons both winning, they didn’t lose any either.
A fourth-quarter surge over the visiting Sacramento Kings kept the Bulls (36-33) in the No. 8 seed, percentage points ahead of the Pistons (37-34) with 13 games remaining. The 109-102 victory also saw them remain .5 games behind the Pacers for the No. 7 seed in the crowded Eastern Conference.
And though they got the desired result, a 65-53 second half lead had vanished by the fourth-quarter when it looked like another collapse was imminent – the latest in a season full of them.
“We played well for about six minutes tonight,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Thankfully it was the last six minutes of the game.”
Down 95-90, the Bulls reeled off a 15-2 run highlighted by weaving drives, a no-look pass and several timely jumpers. At the same time there was effort on defense, hustle on closeouts and a genuine sense of urgency. To that end, the Bulls forced a season-high 20 turnovers leading to 21 easy points.
Everyone from Derrick Rose to Pau Gasol to Taj Gibson to Mike Dunleavy contributed, which was significant since it’s just the second time all season (with Jimmy Butler) that the Bulls have deployed their preferred starting lineup.
Gasol, returning from a four-game absence due to a knee injury, finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds while having to contend with a feisty DeMarcus Cousins (19 points, 18 rebounds) on the defensive end.
Injuries have decimated their continuity, but it’s hardly an excuse for a team that had designs on a deep playoff run. Facing another sub-.500 team at home, coughing up a double-digit lead in the thick of the playoff race would’ve only reinforced doubts that have plagued the Bulls the entire second half.
“Early in the year I’m not sure we win this game,” noted Hoiberg, who added he was pleased with his team’s resolve.
Perhaps that’s what it comes down to with this team full of veterans.
“Just do anything to win,” Rose said after his two elbow jumpers helped ice the victory. “We’ve had games where we let that slip. We had games where we got blown out down that much with that many minutes left. Hopefully we’re learning from it. … When we have our foot on the neck, just got to keep it there.”
Forget about winning pretty. There’s nothing in this team’s makeup to suggest it has a killer instinct. But for now, with a three-game winning streak and upcoming back-to-back games against the New York Knicks looming, it’s simply about maintaining their playoff status.
“We’re right where we were,” Hoiberg said. And for now, that’s good enough.
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