Game Recap; Sam Smith

Bulls.com

Lauri Markkanen scored 22 points and Zach LaVine added 20 but it was the bench that did all the work in the fourth quarter as the Bulls erased a 22-point margin to defeat the Thunder 105-103. They head into next Wednesday's season opener against the Atlanta Hawks with three straight preseason wins.

How good are these Bulls? This good: The Bulls Friday night to close their preseason jolted the Thunder with a lightning fourth quarter strike for a 105-103 Bulls victory. The Bulls were led to the win from a 19-point fourth quarter deficit by two guys not even expected to make the final roster, Simi Shittu and Zach Norvell Jr. Consider the prospects if the regulars were playing. And they thought the tornados were destructive in Oklahoma!

This in the political world would be known as spin. You know, don't believe what you see. Believe what I say.

Actually, the Bulls play Friday was something of a bookend for the poor opening night effort against the Houston Rockets. The Bulls with Lauri Markkanen finally a bright spot and Zach LaVine the most reli-a-Bull throughout this shortened preseason were outplayed and outmaneuvered by the rebuilding Thunder throughout most of the game, trailing by 22 with two minutes left in the third quarter. The confluence of rested Bulls reserves and Thunder subs obviously anxious to get to the roaring Oklahoma City nightlife enabled the Bulls to record a victory.

And now it's scoreboard watching as the Bulls need the Wizards Saturday in the league's preseason close to defeat the Pistons to enable the Bulls to clinch the Central Division preseason title and Billy Donovan's first Chicago championship.

Yes, I have been avoiding this game. You know, just like the Bulls mostly did.

Markkanen showed promising flashes of rookie/sophomore Lauri with 22 points and LaVine was again in almost a boring routine automatic with 20 points.

"Zach has been the one guy that's been pretty consistent scoring throughout," agreed Donovan.

Zach LaVine scores 20 points against the Thunder

"We've been a team at least in this preseason where we've had different guys have different kind of nights," Donovan noted. "Coby had a really big game last game here in OKC and really didn't have a great game (four points on one of 10 shooting, though a team most nine rebounds). Lauri last two games didn't have a great offensive game. Wendell (Carter Jr.) hasn't shot well (zero for four on threes for a 1-16 preseason), but he was better in and around the basket scoring and finishing than he had the last couple games. They were the aggressor. We were back on our heels. They made it a lot more difficult and harder on us and we didn't respond to it."

Rookie Patrick Williams started again for Otto Porter Jr. and never much got into the game with seven points and three rebounds in 29 minutes. Porter came off the bench and again seemed to lack lift, shooting one of eight. Chandler Hutchison did have another hustling effort and even made a pair of threes for 11 points. Though the Bulls trailed 90-71 after three until the Simi Show of drives, short jumpers and loose balls with 13 fourth quarter points and the teams trading leads down the stretch. A Thunder three to win the game at the buzzer rolled off the rim as the teams shared four turnovers in the last nerve wracking 73 seconds. Oklahoma City only released one of its players who finished the game immediately afterward, T.J. Leaf.

And so the next time we see the Bulls it will be in their first NBA game that counts since March 10, Wednesday in the United Center against the Atlanta Hawks.

It will be with a new coach and pretty much the same roster and perhaps the same starting lineup.

Though White shot poorly Friday, he and LaVine seem certain to start in a backcourt that has promise, if not yet consistency.

"He just had an off shooting night," LaVine said about White, who was leading the the team in scoring before the game. "There's going to be days like that throughout the season. We're not just going to be putting up combined 55 points every night; it's not going to happen. I don't think every backcourt does that every single night. He's got to be Coby. If he misses, he can't put his head down. He's got to continue doing what he does, help us with the offense and also be able to get his shot off. I don't think Coby ever lacks for confidence."

The backcourt seems like the Bulls best and most reliable option with LaVine's shooting almost mesmerizing in its flow and efficiency. Though White didn't shoot well this game, he's a natural scorer and he and LaVine should combine for at least 40 points every game, often more. Markkanen adding 20 points on a regular basis would solve some problems. And Friday he provided what in the last year has been a rare glimpse at who he used to be.

Markkanen played as a trail perimeter center often in the game, a role Donovan seems to be enamored of for Markkanen. Markkanen was four of 10 on three pointers and nine of 17 overall shooting with more of the driving aggression he showed some Wednesday against the Thunder.

"I think that's the level I can play every night and that's where my expectations are," Markkanen said. "I think the system fits me really well. I feel like it's night and day from last year. Being in down screens and being on the move the whole time (versus a stationary catch-and-shoot target). I'm really liking the offense so far. We just got to keep getting better at it.''

Carter figures to remain the starting center for now, though his hesitancy and uncertainty continued in his long distance shooting. It's clear Donovan has been urging Carter to take those shots to open the floor by having defenders rush out to him. They're apparently reading the box scores and leaving Carter open. He's continued to look unsure about whether to shoot and he's continued to miss. Though he clearly was more comfortable operating inside in some pick and roll plays and even a lob pass for a Markkanen dunk.

Though there's been a lot of excitement about rookie Williams, he's probably not ready to start yet. He remained passive playing with the starters and went for long periods in this game without attempting offense. He's going to be very good, though perhaps not quite yet. Porter is puzzling as he's not moving particularly well. Though his shot at least looks good.

One problem Donovan has is Thad Young, Tomas Satoransky, Denzel Valentine and Garrett Temple all remained out and basically have missed all or most of the preseason games. Their absences have enabled Hutchison to create some notice with his activity and hustle.

But also, in part, as a result of those players missing, Donovan admitted he probably contributed to the general lethargy by staying with a seven-player rotation most of the first three quarters.

"I think we got a little bit gassed at the end of the first quarter," Donovan acknowledged after the Bulls had gotten off to a fast paced 24-17 start.

LaVine to start made some clever passes for scores, and again his defense was much improved. Markkanen made a three to start the game, but there were worrisome signs with the Bulls opting too much for one pass and a shot. Initially, they were making those shots. That didn't endure as the Thunder led 29-27 after one quarter.

"What I was trying to do tonight was I wanted to get Lauri at the five spot," Donovan explained. "I wanted to see what that would look like against (Mike) Muscala with (Al) Horford coming off. It probably shortened our rotation a little bit. It probably put guys on the court a minute or two or three minutes longer than they should have been. I don't want to speak for Zach and Coby, but that was a long stretch for the two of them to play in the backcourt. We didn't really have a lot of perimeter players (Ryan Arcidiacono had to leave briefly after taking a second quarter charge). They certainly played 10 to our seven, and we probably could've used a little bit more of a rest."

The Bulls disintegrated in the second quarter as the Thunder kept making threes and the Bulls acted as if they didn't believe it and challenged them to do so again. They did with Horford making four.

"I think we had a lot of short closeouts," Donovan agreed. "We did not get out there well enough. I think that's what we did such a great job of the other night. We had (defensive) help and we really had a presence at the basket (Wednesday). The ball (Friday) went wherever it wanted to go. And we went under (screens) a lot."

"I'm not happy it happened tonight," Donovan said. "But it's good for us to show those guys on film so we can get better at the technique of doing that."

Those coaches love the film room more than Siskel and Ebert did.

After trailing by 15 points at halftime, the Bulls' frustration and lethargy grew in somewhat similar proportions as there were more offensive isolations, standing around; clearly the cumulative effect of three days in an Oklahoma City hotel room. No Four Seasons or Ritz there.

No problem for Simisola, the undrafted 6-10 Canadian forward who played for Vanderbilt and last season the Windy City Bulls.

"We've had two good games, two bad games," noted LaVine. "We've shown that we can bounce back from the bad games. Even though we won tonight, they jumped on us early and we've got to be able to respond to some of those leads. It's a new group. We're still learning. I think we've got to fight a little bit more."

bulls-come-back-from-22-point-deficit-finish-preseason-3-1

Bulls come back from 22-point deficit, finish preseason 3-1

Shaq Harrison stepped up scoring a career-high, but it wasn't enough as the Bulls fall at home to Indiana.

Shaq gave it all he had, and still it wasn't enough for the Bulls Friday in a 108-102 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Which, of course, reminds me of the time in Philadelphia when Charles Barkley was begging management for help. Finally, it came. "We got Shack," Barkley was informed and thus ecstatic. Until he learned it was the late journeyman big man Charles Shackleford, known for declaring that he could score with either hand because, you know, he was amphibious. So was he ignorant or just apathetic? Supposedly he didn't know and didn't care.

C'mon, smile. We've got to laugh these days with the Bulls or we're going to start crying.

It was at least worth a smile Friday as rookie Coby White continued to excel with a game-high 26 points and all-time good guy Shaquille "Shaq" Harrison set a career-high with 25 points.

"I put in hard work over the summer and in the season, and it's good to see it translate to the game," said Harrison.

Is there a Most Improved Player of the Month award?

The 6-4 Harrison was undrafted and spent two years in the G-league. It's his second season as a marginal rotation player for the Bulls with a career three-point shooting percentage of 27.7 percent and averaging 5.9 playing in about half the games.

So he just tries to make the most of his chances.

"That's been my life," said Harrison, who turned down a football scholarship to Kansas to play basketball at Tulsa. "I was undrafted, had only a couple of offers out of high school. I'm always the last guy they're looking at. I know I have to make an impression in the one opportunity or chance I get. It's nothing unusual or new for me. I take pride in that. A lot of guys can't do that."

Or what Harrison has done lately. In the three games in March with Zach LaVine recovering from a quad injury, Harrison is averaging 14.7 points on 53 percent shooting and eight of 10 on threes after making five of six Friday. Unfortunately, the rest of the Bulls made four of their 32 three-point attempts.

It was one of those games when the Bulls shot 65 percent: 41 percent from the field and 24 percent on threes.

The Bulls record fell to 21-42, their 12th loss in the last 14 games as they wait for injured Zach LaVine. Kris Dunn and Luke Kornet are out for the season and Chandler Hutchison still is out with a shoulder problem. Though the Pacers were missing regulars T.J. Warren, Malcolm Brogdon, Doug McDermott, and Jeremy Lamb. But with the returning-from-injury Bulls working their way back—Lauri Markkanen with three points on one of 10 shooting, Wendell Carter Jr. with eight points and Otto Porter Jr. with six points—the Bulls fell behind 16 at halftime and were still trailing by 17 after three when they made a familiar fourth-quarter run to within six before Indiana made free throws.

The Pacers, 38-25, got 24 points and 12 rebounds from All-Star Domantas Sabonis. Victor Oladipo had 16 points and former Windy City Bull JaKarr Sampson came off the bench for 14 points. Denzel Valentine added 13 points for the Bulls.

"For us to get down and come back is a credit to us," said Harrison. "We kept fighting, we kept throwing punches. Unfortunately, we didn't get the win, but you have to be somewhat proud of a team that continues to fight when you are down 23 points."

There's been that as the Bulls continue to make things, at least, interesting if not exactly ultimately satisfying.

They were no match inside for Sabonis and Myles Turner, and Carter in his fourth game after missing six weeks with an ankle injury accepted blame.

"It's been kind of tough as an individual," Carter acknowledged. ‘My legs have been kind of heavy; it makes me a liability sometimes on the defensive end. I have to be patient and keep working hard. It's improved, but nowhere near where I want to be before I got injured."

The Bulls are laboring through what coach Jim Boylen likened to another training camp with players returning from long term absences. Porter had a big first game but has shot four of 18 since then. Markkanen came back Wednesday to shoot six of 10 and then, perhaps predictably, missed nine of 10 Friday and all five three-point attempts.

"You can try and do conditioning and stuff like that, but the game is different," said Markkanen. "We are doing a little bit shorter stints on the court. I played like four or five minutes at a time. My legs were a little tired, but I felt better than last game, it's just game by game, trying to get better. I'm not worried about the shooting; it's part of the process."

So the Bulls were a step or so (or more) slower, falling behind 29-23 after one quarter after a positive 10-2 start and then doomed by a Pacers' 17-4 close to the first half. Indiana then opened the third quarter 11-4 to take a 73-50 lead that the Bulls finally attacked in the fourth quarter. There was a 12-2 run with eight straight Harrison points. And then a remarkable lost opportunity when the Bulls got four offensive rebounds on one possession only to watch Valentine miss two shots, Thaddeus Young one and White another two, five misses in one 40-second possession. The Bulls with 3:40 left in the game and trailing 101-92 forced three more empty Pacers possessions. But they also went dry their next three possessions, giving them little time to make it more interesting.

"I give our guys credit for hanging on," said Boylen. "I don't think we played well; I thought we tried. Again, I think we're in this moment where we're working guys back in and getting used to playing with each other again and kind of fighting through it. It's almost like we're in preseason with some of these lineups and situations and that's nobody's fault; it is what it is. But it's difficult. Wendell is going through that, Lau is going through that, Otto is going through that. But we need those guys to play. We need them to get into the game and get their sea legs back; that's where we are at. "

Other than Harrison's play, which also included four assists, three steals, and two blocks, was the continued excellence of White. He's still coming off the bench, though he played almost 38 minutes as the Bulls' most reliable scorer without LaVine. White is averaging 27.7 the last seven games and shooting 46 percent on threes while making more than four per game. You can begin to start to dream what that might look like the way LaVine has scored this season.

Perhaps that will mean a turnaround. Like Shack supposedly once said, one of those 360s.

bulls-fall-to-indiana-despite-a-career-high-from-shaq-harrison

Bulls fall to Indiana despite a career high from Shaq Harrison

Sam Smith

After trailing at half-time, the Bulls put together one of their most complete second halves of the season to grab the win over the Mavericks. OPJ had an impressive return from injury, and White led the Bulls in scoring but it was the defensive play of Adam Mokoka on Luka Doncic which was the spark for the Bulls second-half performance.

They're putting the band back together. Perhaps they'll begin to hit some high notes this time, like Monday when the Bulls gave the Dallas Mavericks something to think about with a 109-107 victory.

"We got the job done," said rookie Coby White, who led six Bulls in double figures with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. "Second half, we sparked up defensively and got a lot of stops and that led to easy offense for us. We got tired of losing those close games. We buckled down and got the win. A win is a win, so that's all that matters at the end of the day.

"I still believe we can make the playoffs," White added. "We're going to come this March and buckle down and try to get some wins and keep going hard and fighting; this team is never going to quit fighting. I'm looking at making the playoffs and me continuing to get better. Until we can't make it, we still believe and we're still fighting."

Ah, the optimism of youth. If only we all could carry that with us.

It was just one win, the second in the Bulls last 12 games and now 21-40, 11th place in the Eastern Conference and six games out of eighth. So the old head put it in perspective.

"We're not thinking about the playoffs right now," said Otto Porter Jr. "We're just trying to get guys back. When it gets down to it where we're going to need a couple games, then we'll get in that playoff mode."

Who knows in this season of a mission from management whether the Bulls will get there or even close. But even with Zach LaVine Monday missing his first game of the season with a mild quad strain, it appears like the backbone and nerve center of what the Bulls believed was a playoff band might just be making some sweet sounds soon.

LaVine isn't expected to be out long as the Bulls play in Minnesota Wednesday. Lauri Markkanen practiced with the Windy City Bulls and also could play this week to join Porter, who played his first game Monday in four months after a fractured foot and strummed some soothing string music.

"Otto was huge for us," said White. "Got to that shot as soon as he got in the game; we missed that a lot from him this year. We're glad to have him back."

Coming in late in the first quarter from the bench to join fellow reserve White in a bench group that outscored the starters, Porter closed the first quarter with a pair of jumpers on the way to 18 points in just 17 minutes, making seven of 11 shots.

"Pretty strong for a first game back in two months or whatever it was," acknowledged Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. "Skill/feel players don't usually jump into a game and do what he was able to do. Give him credit.

"Look, they played their game," Carlisle added. "They play a hard game. They play a combative game. We just didn't deal with it in the third quarter well at all."

Well, the Bulls did play like that. They haven't much lately lagging through all the injures with seven rotation players out and the Bulls on the defensive about their defensive play.

"We talked about it today that we were 12th in the last five games offensively, but we were in the bottom third defensively," said Bulls coach Jim Boylen. "That (had to) change. Those last three quarters, I thought, our defense was as good as it's been all year."

Mostly that second half, really, after the high scoring Mavericks led by MVP candidate Luka Doncic took apart the Bulls early, another poor start for the Bulls trailing 15-6 without LaVine and White coming off the bench, and behind 29-19 after one quarter. Doncic was a marvel with a first quarter of 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. He would finish with 23 points, just eight after halftime. Tim Hardaway Jr. led Dallas with 26 points. Denzel Valentine getting his first start of the season had a personal season high with 17 points. Thaddeus Young added 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Bulls grabbed a 36-34 second quarter lead when Doncic went out. Dallas, 37-25, decided to rest big man Kristaps Porzingis and its offense disappeared without Doncic. He returned with about eight minutes left in the half and led Dallas to a 58-48 halftime lead as the Mavs with the giant Boban Marjanovic were dominating the Bulls on the boards.

"Halftime we came in and said we were going to grit our teeth and get it done defensively," said White. "That's what we did and that's what happened."

What they did became one of the team's best quarters of the season, especially one of those usually troublesome thirds. Primarily with two-way G-league player Adam Mokoka the main defender and an effective trap and recover game, the Bulls were able to frustrate Doncic and limit the Mavericks.

"Felt good out there, back in the groove a little bit, back on the court," said Porter. "My energy was very high as I was very excited about it. Doing something you love is like giving candy to a baby; you're going to be happy. Definitely happy to get back out and play basketball, get back with my teammates and get the W. We were able to lock down defensively. Our defense on the ball was really good, our pick and roll defense was really good. Overall, our team had a lot of effort and played with a lot of energy."

The Bulls opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run, Boylen winning a challenge to turn an offensive foul into a three-point play, added another 9-0 run after Doncic squeezed loose for a basket and then later hit the Mavs with a 6-0 run with a couple of Ryan Arcidiacono scores. Plus, the Bulls were as engaged and enthusiastic as they've been in weeks. Arcidiacono pounded the floor in triumph after drawing his team most 19th charge, fourth most in the league. White flexed over Porter drawing a foul on a three-point shot and then struck a muscular pose as fellow rookie and locker mate Daniel Gafford finished a lob pass for a three-point play.

"Otto came in and had big buckets," said Valentine. "Guys are getting opportunities to show what they can do. The last 21 games are going to be key taking advantage of these opportunities. We have a really good and talented team and that doesn't get seen sometimes. We've been right there (in a lot of the losses). So it's good to beat a good team like that. We're talented one through 15. Sometimes it gets overshadowed because we're losing and guys aren't getting their opportunities. But it was huge to see everybody contribute and play a part in the win."

Which began to look so certain late that fans began leaving early because the Bulls were far ahead and it appeared like the opponent would be the one giving in with the post game hugs.

Until what almost became one of the most unlikely losses ever.

The Bulls had the ball and an eight-point lead with 22.8 seconds left in the game after what seemed like Dallas' last gasp. Max Kleber threw the ball out of bounds for a turnover. It looked like Dallas might just let the Bulls dribble out. The Bulls called timeout.

And then Doncic's three pointer for the Dallas win came up just short.

Boylen called it "learning, young team moments."

It likely would have been called something else if the Bulls had given that one away.

"With our luck, he probably would have made that," laughed Valentine. "But as long as you win the game, that's what matters."

Satoransky was the inbounder. The play to White broke down. Instead of throwing toward the Bulls basket, Satoransky threw into the backcourt at the Dallas basket. Kleber intercepted in front of his basket and laid the ball in. Mokoka then took the ball out and made a lazy pass in that Delon Wright stole defending the inbounds pass. Three Bulls went into the lane as Wright faked a pass inside. Dorian Finney-Smith ran to the corner, got the pass and made a three. Suddenly it was 107-104 with 15.3 seconds left.

Young running to the corner to defend sagged under the weight of what seemed like the unimaginable.

You thought someone on the bench might hide under a seat.

The Bulls took their last timeout with 15.3 seconds left.

Dallas had to foul with one to give. Satoransky got the ball in to Young and he was fouled. Satoransky admitted he should have called timeout rather than make that backcourt heave pass earlier. Satoransky inbounded for a third time with 14.5 seconds left. Satoransly barely got the ball in to a leaping Young, who was fouled with 13 seconds left. Young made the second of two free throws for a 108-104 Bulls lead. Dallas called its last timeout.

Dallas advanced to its front court. Finney-Smith threw into Hardaway and the ball made its way back to Doncic. He dribbled left into the lane, drawing three defenders. He threw back to Finney-Smith on the right wing and he made another three: 108-107 Bulls with 4.9 seconds left. No timeouts left.

Young inbounded the ball to Wendell Carter Jr., who was fouled by Doncic as Carter attempted to pass back to Young. The officials reviewed the play as Carter's follow through on the pass knocked down Doncic. It could have been a flagrant foul call, but the officials ruled it just a common foul on Doncic as called.

With 2.6 seconds left in the game, Carter missed the first and made the second free throw for a 109-107 Bulls lead. Boylen admitted he considered telling Carter to miss the second after he missed the first because Dallas likely would be shooting a three, anyway.

"Entered my mind," said Boylen. "You set your defense or are you in scramble mode? You can argue it either way."

Finney-Smith ran the endline looking for Doncic.

Seriously, could they lose an eight-point lead in less than 20 seconds?

Finney-Smith threw to Doncic coming back to half court. Doncic caught the ball near midcourt near the left sideline in front of the scorer's table. He took two dribbles with Mokoka on him and pushed off Jordan/Bryon Russell-like. Doncic then stepped back just past half court and launched a high arcing three.

"I had a nice view of it," said White, who was just behind Mokoka. White turned toward the basket as Doncic' shot floated high. "He put enough arc on it to go in," said White. "With Luka anything could be going it. He's making those shots easy in warmups. I did (think it was going in)."

Doncic held his head in his hands as the ball come up just short, hitting the left side of the rim.

"Luckily," smiled White, "It was short. We'll take it."

Perhaps they're starting to see the light.

bulls-beat-the-mavs-as-otto-porter-jr-returns-from-injury

Bulls Beat The Mavs as Otto Porter Jr. Returns From Injury

The Bulls welcomed back Wendell Carter Jr. on saturday, but it still wasn't enough to get past the more physical New York Knicks.

The Bulls once again in New York City played the role of Midwest tourists in the big city, staring up at the heights while getting pushed around and leaving with that empty feeling.

"A similar theme," lamented Bulls coach Jim Boylen. "Their physicality, their size was hard on us."

Bullied by the guys chasing their 18th win?

So it was for the Bulls Saturday in Madison Square Garden, yielding a season most 76 inside points as Knicks players pushed Bulls aside like rush hour pedestrians racing home in a 125-115 Knicks victory. The Knicks outworked the Bulls 50-33 on the boards even with the return of center Wendell Carter Jr. The Knicks shot 55 percent with 32 second-chance points at least a half dozen lob dunk scores. The Knicks didn't have a fast-break score.

Reserve New York big man Mitchell Robinson, whose shooting range is about 10 inches, led the Knicks with 23 points. Julius Randle added 22 points and R.J. Barrett had 19. Former Bulls Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis had 17 and 10 rebounds, respectively, if not always respectfully. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 26 points and seven assists and Coby White, uncertain with a back strain, added 22 points off the bench. Thaddeus Young had 15 points, Daniel Gafford had 12 and Denzel Valentine also returned from injury and had eight points in 10 minutes.

"I feel good for (teammates) coming back," said LaVine. "I just hope we can all stay locked in and finish these games. I just try to focus on what I can do and if I can look myself in the mirror and say I did everything that I can do to finish this game, I'm happy with that. Stick to my routine, come in every day, try to be a pro, just get better. I think we can all do a little bit better being consistent with ourselves. You have to stay consistent and don't let that doubt creep in. There will be frustrations. You have to take pride in it. This is still our job. We have to compete and play."

The Bulls, 20-40, have nine losses in their last 10 games and are in a defensive free fall, which is a worrisome sign in playing out a season. In these last 10 games, the Bulls are giving up 121 points per game and being outscored by nine points per game with six double-digit losses.

The competitive spirit that has carried them so long through the early disappointments and injuries seems to be wavering some amidst the weight of the losses. Players appear to be trying, though the lack of size has been problematic with the multiple guard lineups and frontcourt players Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr. and Luke Kornet still out. Though it's not like Bulls players are running away from fault.

"Tonight down the stretch I didn't really have it," acknowledged the candid Carter, who hardly was the fault in his first game in almost two months following an ankle injury. "It definitely bothers me as a player. They had 70-some points in the paint. They rebounded like 53 percent of their misses. I just feel like that's a recipe for disaster. If we can't be tougher as a team, we are going to lose that battle every time. I'm not going to blame it on me not being 100 percent, but I wasn't playing physical enough tonight, obviously. Just have to approach every game and make sure my presence is felt on the physical side."

Carter is on a playing time limitation. He had a productive six points and nine rebounds in 18 minutes, starting the game with a blocked shot. But he also missed four of his five shots.

"Not necessarily my ankle hurt or anything," said Carter. "More so I wasn't in a groove; my timing was off. My pick and roll coverages were kind of shaky. It's kind of hard for me to voice how I'm feeling to the team when I'm not doing the job I'm supposed to be doing. I had to bite my tongue on a lot of things."

There wasn't much to say the way the 18-42 Knicks with six consecutive losses were racing to the basket-like midtown taxi drivers with the Bulls waving like they were trying to get one to stop in the rain. The Bulls actually had one of their more efficient games with 17 of 35 threes and just eight turnovers for seven Knicks points while scoring 29 points on Knicks' mistakes. So there was Bulls activity, if not always satisfying. The Bulls did adapt to the local environment by picking some pockets with a dozen steals. Young had five, 17 in the last five games.

The lane must have looked to the Bulls like it was shaded with a canopy the way the Knicks players were soaring over the Bulls for repeat attempts and dunks.

"They got middle on us too much," said Boylen. "That created situations at the rim, lobs; you have to shift. The offensive rebound opportunities were open. It's disappointing (to be pushed around physically). It's exactly what we talked about with the team and we have to do better."

Shaquille Harrison drew the musical chairs start Saturday in place of Ryan Arcidiacono, though that starting five with Tomas Satoransky generally leaves the Bulls at a disadvantage offensively. So once again the Bulls were playing from behind as they have in just about every game the last few weeks. The trailed 9-2 to start with Gibson getting the edge inside on Carter.

"I got winded pretty quickly," Carter admitted. "I try to train and be prepared for it, but it's nothing like playing in a game. It's just something I'm working towards. I'm not really focusing on too much right now, just trying to get my second wind back."

The Knicks more than doubled the Bulls on the boards to start and 12 of their 13 first-quarter field goals were either layups or dunks. Welcome to your early starting time, which was 5 p.m. Eastern. The Bulls woke up in the second quarter with a nice run that included back to back LaVine threes. The Bulls high scorer despite the season of setbacks hasn't missed a game and continues to compete at a high level.

"I can't speak for everybody else. I know when I step on the floor, I think I can win," said LaVine. "I haven't been a winner in the NBA, but I don't feel like I'm a losing player. So I think I can help to the best of my ability. That's where you start. You have to think of yourself and then go upwards."

LaVine rose for several dunks, as usual, and tied Satoransky for the team lead in assists despite drawing the bulk of defensive attention. LaVine had just one turnover and a steal in a team most 38 minutes.

With his threes, the Bulls took a 46-43 lead midway through the second quarter. It still was a one-point game with three minutes remaining when the Knicks closed the half on a 16-2 run for a 66-53 halftime lead.

The Knicks sprinted to a 17-point lead early in the third quarter, but at least these Bulls don't give in. With LaVine contributing seven points and Valentine eight straight for the Bulls to close the third, the Bulls got within 89-86 entering the fourth quarter.

"We have to hold people down when we score 115," said Boylen. "If we do that, we have a chance to win. We didn't. Great to have Wendell back in there. I thought he had some moments when he looked like Wendell and I thought he had some moments when he looked like he was preseason still; that's part of it. That's why he's on a minutes restriction. He's not full bore yet. I thought Denzel gave us some good minutes. We'll keep moving forward with it."

White declined to take his first game off and looked like he might save the Bulls in the fourth. He scored on a fast break after a turnover and made a three to bring the Bulls within two with nine minutes left. But the Knicks sandwiched a Bulls turnover with back to back threes, shook off an Adam Mokoka three and steadily pulled away with 10 more dunks and layups and nine free throws as LaVine even earned a rare frustration technical foul.

Spend a February afternoon in Manhattan and it's difficult to leave with a smile.

wendell-carter-returns-but-the-bulls-come-up-short-in-new-york

Wendell Carter returns but the Bulls come up short in New York

It was yet another halftime lead that slipped away in the third quarter leaving the Bulls in what is all too familiar territory.

With 7:15 remaining Sunday in what would be the Bulls 129-102 loss to the Toronto Raptors, Thad Young closing out his best game as a Bull by trying to take a charge may also have closed out his Bulls career. The official signaled the offense foul against surprising Raptors high scorer Terence Davis. Raptors coach Nick Nurse, who will coach the East All-Stars in Chicago later this month, bounced up to challenge the decision. His objection was accepted and Young was dismissed from the game with his sixth foul after scoring a team-high 21 points.

With the NBA trade deadline, Thursday before the Bulls play their next game, that may have been the last the Bulls see of Young. Or perhaps Denzel Valentine, Kris Dunn, and Tomas Satoransky. Or that when play resumes in the United Center Thursday against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans, they all might be there again for what they hope will be a run for the playoffs despite dropping to a season-worst 14 games under .500 at 19-33.

"I will handle it appropriately with the information that is out there," Bulls coach Jim Boylen said about addressing trade speculation in this final week of NBA trading. "I'm always honest and direct with our guys with what is going on. So if there's a moment when that needs to be done I will do it."

Though trade rumors have been limited around the NBA, especially in the wake of the recent deaths of former commissioner David Stern and last week Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, Young's name has come up most often among Bulls players because of his veteran experience and savvy. Young is starting now with Lauri Markkanen injured and out about a month with a pelvic stress reaction.

But Markkanen will return and remains the Bulls future at power forward. Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. likely will return after the All-Star break. The Bulls haven't disclosed yet Dunn's status after his knee injury in Brooklyn Friday. He returned to Chicago for tests and didn't play Sunday in Toronto.

Despite a devastating second-half collapse once again after the Bulls led 63-60 at halftime, Young was at his best making nine of 12 shots and three of five threes, equalling Zach LaVine for a team-high with seven rebounds and adding two steals. Young has scored in double figures in the last six games, all starts. He's averaged 12.7 points on 56 percent shooting, close to his career averages after he's been somewhat misused as a standstill perimeter player most of the season.

Which is why there have been reports that several teams have been scouting the Bulls with interest in the veteran. Young earlier this season expressed a desire to play more. But he has been loyal to the organization after signing a three-year free-agent deal.

"I understand it's a business," Young said recently. "If I'm traded, I have to go. If not, then I'm here with my brothers, my teammates and ready to fight. My focus is on playing for the Bulls and helping us get some wins. If they have to make a business decision, I understand."

Which makes this is a crucial week for the Bulls.

They're still only three and a half games out of eighth in the Eastern Conference with the eighth-place Orlando Magic slumping and Kyrie Irving with a knee sprain for the seventh-place Nets four games ahead. One good week with the return of Markkanen, Porter, and Carter could change all that. Though the Bulls Sunday just did drop to 1-20 against teams with winning records, suggesting perhaps structural issues.

Should the Bulls make a trade for the future and try to fortify around their young players like LaVine and Markkanen? Or stand pat and maybe try to supplement the additions of Young and Satoransky with another veteran to carry them through until the other starters return? It will make for a week of rumors and speculation, if not certainty.

You could sense it among the players and even see it in their faces, especially with Zach LaVine. He had 18 points to end his run of 17 consecutive games and all of January scoring at least 20 points every game. But the Raptors eventually showed a full-court press against LaVine, who played a sophisticated all-around game with seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

But you could see the frustration and strain in LaVine's eyes, his usually joyful twinkle seemly dulled by the endless series of disappointments. LaVine sat unusually expressionless as the rout played out down the stretch with the Bulls bench emptied with almost five minutes remaining and trailing 121-96. Without Carter and Dunn, the defense has shattered to among the poorest in the NBA. Opponents are averaging 126 per game the last three, all losses.

"We threw it away," observed LaVine in an unusually dull monotone. "Same story that we do most of the games we lead at halftime or going into the third quarter. You've got to figure out how to stop doing that."

"They do a good job," said LaVine. "They're a championship team. They know to take away the first option and they're going to take the ball out of my hand or show gaps to try to make me force shots. I just try to play the right way and it didn't work out today.

"I'm just upset," said LaVine when asked about his dour mood. "It gets frustrating when you lose games. I've been going through it the last three years here. It just gets frustrating. It's like anybody else in our position. We're human. You have human reactions and feelings. I get frustrated eventually."

It's certainly understandable as LaVine seems to have tried everything from scoring among the best in the league to Sunday running the offense effectively and helping defensively with double teams that surprised the Raptors. But to no avail, as even without regulars Marc Gasol and Norman Powell, the Raptors with a bench of undrafted players Davis, Chris Boucher and Matt Thomas outscored the Bulls reserves 66-30. The Raptors, 36-14, also got 17 points from Pascal Siakam and 16 from Serge Ibaka. Chandler Hutchison had 17 points for the Bulls and Ryan Arcidiacono got his guy with 12 to match Toronto's Fred VanVleet.

Coby White also had 12 points with four of 11 on threes, further making it a mockery White was excluded from the All-Star weekend rookie/sophomore game. The NBA's snub is particularly egregious. White is second among rookies in threes made. White leads rookies in games played as he hasn't missed any. He is fifth in total assists, top 10 in total rebounds and top 10 in points despite not being in the top 10 in average minutes per game.

It's been that kind of a season for the Bulls, productive in some respects without the expected results for the work.

And so it was again as the Bulls despite the injury hardships played one of their best halves in a difficult arena against a team going for its 11th consecutive victory and 12th straight over the Bulls.

Led by Young with a dozen first-quarter points operating out of his favored post positions, the Bulls after falling behind 17-8 scored 10 straight and trailed 32-29 after one. The Bulls were moving the ball well and would have 16 first-half assists. They took advantage of seven first quarter Toronto turnovers with the Raptors handling the ball like it was a football for an ideal Super Bowl Sunday matinee.

With a 17-6 start to the second quarter took a 46-43 lead. Arcidiacono made a trio of threes in that run. Daniel Gafford made a brief return from injury and then rolled an ankle, but he did return later in the game. He had one point in nine minutes. Leading the defending champions by three at halftime, the Bulls deserved to be high stepping like Shakira.

"First half it was drive, drive, drive, kick, drive, kick," said Toronto's Nurse about the Bulls. "Give them credit, I was like: ‘Man, they are playing great.' They were really driving it hard, finding the right guys, knocking down shots, zipping it around and they had us scrambling big time in the first half. They were playing great and we had to get that under control a little bit."

It's what's happened so often to the Bulls this season, especially now with so many regulars injured.

Opponents check the record and injury list and don't expect the passion. But then they get the Bulls with the execution. Show over!

The Bulls have stayed with their trap of the ballhandler, which is less effective without Dunn. Boylen has emphasized the ultimate next man concept by attempting to place different talents into similar roles. So to start the third quarter, the Raptors on offense had Ibaka as the screener. He's a reasonable playmaker. But primarily they had him roll out of the trap. With his size, the Bulls defensive help player was too small. He went inside for three scores on their first five possessions. Siakam also went to the boards as the Raptor hit the Bulls 17-4 to open the second half.

"The first half the ball was moving," said Boylen. "Made open shots. I thought the third quarter we had the same plays to make. We didn't make them and I thought we dropped our heads a little bit in that third when the ball wasn't going in and they made their run. We've got different guys playing, new guys playing and we got guys out. We've got to learn how to play in that third quarter when the ball is not going in."

Toronto had something to do with that as well as they denied LaVine. Nurse has become one of the top defensive coaches in the NBA, probably the only one to limit Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Raptors did in last year's playoffs. LaVine on several occasions Sunday saw similar defenses, once with five Raptors surrounding him in a tight circle. LaVine didn't force anything, moving the ball intelligently. But the Bulls quantity three-part shooting game failed them again, the Bulls 15 of 48 on threes. The Bulls did get within five points late in the third quarter before Toronto eased ahead 95-85 after three quarters. When the Raptors opened the fourth with back to back threes and an 11-2 run, it felt like the groundhog day once again. Same result.

It's perhaps why LaVine just stared straight again at the end. It feels cold and grey and keeps repeating.

bulls-lose-in-toronto

Bulls lose in Toronto

A tough no call down the stretch may have cost the Bulls, but it was a poor finish to the game that leaves the Bulls in familiar territory.

The Bulls Wednesday in Indianapolis finally got that elusive third consecutive win with a…what! They lost that game?

Even watching, it was difficult to believe as the Bulls after leading 100-93 with 4:11 left missed their last six shots, five by Zach LaVine, committed a pair of turnovers, watched Victor Oladipo in his first game in a year make a 28-foot three-pointer to tie with 10.3 seconds left and then grab LaVine's arm as the Bulls closer was trying to finish. Nobody reacted, including the officials, and then the Bulls were finished quickly in overtime in a 115-106 defeat.

But even as the NBA's report will likely agree that last LaVine drive could have been the game-winning free throws, even LaVine didn't have the conviction to blame someone else.

This seemed like yet another sure victory the Bulls inexplicably let get away in a season marred by them. But not so much lately. Until, well, Wednesday.

"I'm upset with myself," LaVine acknowledged. "I missed shots I should make. I made a bad decision, missed the wide-open three. I just couldn't close the game for us today. They (officials) know what happened (on his last attempt with 2.2 seconds left in regulation). It's basketball. It shouldn't have gotten down to that point. It was a no-call. It was a foul and they just missed it. That stuff happens throughout the game; just sucks that it was at the end of the game. There are missed calls throughout the game, goes to us, goes to them. I don't think it should have gotten down to that last-second shot, anyway. We let the game slip out of hand. I was upset with myself for not being able to close it out "We're fighting for a playoff spot," LaVine added. "This is a game that I think we had won and we let it slip through our hands again. Now we have an opportunity to go against a team that we are trying to catch in the standings in Brooklyn in a couple of days, so we've got to get ready for them."

Which made the defeat all the more painful on the eve of the release of the results for the All-Star team reserves. The Bulls play in Brooklyn Friday in a rare meaningful game this season. Beating what seemed like a tired and ripe Pacers team for a third straight win would have sent the Bulls to Brooklyn with a chance to draw within game of the last playoff spot and with one more win than the Nets. But at 19-31, the Bulls fell three games behind both the Nets and Magic for the last two playoff spots in the East. The Pacers rose to 31-17 and it's difficult to analyze where the talent difference is between the two teams. JaKarr Sampson again started for Indiana.

"Up by seven with two minutes to go," reiterated LaVine.

In some sense, it's remarkable that the Bulls have maintained a high level of competition and spirit despite so many debilitating defeats. Which doesn't get you a trophy in professional ball.

"I thought we battled, I thought we played really hard, had the game under control," noted Bulls coach Jim Boylen. "Thought we had opportunities to make plays at the end. Couple of those looked like they could have been called as fouls; they weren't. Happens in our game, so move on. I think we had some opportunities that didn't happen for us. It's a road (complaining about officials) I don't want to go down, a path I don't want to go down. I can't get into all that."

Because the league punishes coaches for those observations. It is a private enterprise, after all. It's not a free country or free league.

"Tonight we played really well and lost," said Boylen. "Some nights we've played poorly and won; that's all it is. We'll just keep moving forward; that's all you can do."

But you'd like to get a bit more reward for the effort at times.

It was a particularly difficult game for LaVine, who may finally be experiencing the wear of carrying so many 225-pound men so far. The Bulls offense pretty much to close games is Zach and clear out. It worked often when the Bulls had Michael Jordan. But not as often as everyone thinks, especially in Jordan's early years with the Bulls.

LaVine has been an exceptional finisher lately, especially without the injured Finn, Lauri Markkanen, who joined Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and Daniel Gafford injured. Indiana was without Myles Turner.

The Pacers repeatedly double-teamed and trapped LaVine, and he was patient, finishing with a season-high nine assists. LaVine with 20 points did reach the mark for the 16th consecutive game, but he needed overtime to get there. Chandler Hutchison with a career-high 21 points on 10 of 14 dunks and layups led the Bulls. It was the first time in the last 13 games someone other than LaVine led the Bulls in scoring. It was also the first time in 36 games someone other than LaVine or Markkanen led the Bulls in scoring, and Markkanen did just five times.

It's been a season of LaVine highlights, but he never got enough going Wednesday. It didn't seem to matter until the last four minutes when the Bulls were scoreless. Not that the Pacers were special, missing three three-pointers and committing a pair of turnovers before Oladipo's oh-what-the-heck three from the far left-wing tied the game. It was Oladipo's only success in seven three-point attempts in his return from a knee injury last January.

"It was a great shot by a great player," said Boylen. "It will be a learning moment for all of us. We've played well, we've played poorly, played hard. We've had nights when we haven't played as well as we'd like, nights when we've played really well. That's what a young team is. We'll do what we always do: Learn from our mistakes and keep developing this team."

Hutchison had his best game as a Bull and Cristiano Felicio looks like the guy the Bulls wanted to give a long contract. He had eight points and eight rebounds and a team-best plus rating again and was in the game to close. Tomas Satoransky had 11 points and the Bulls last basket of regulation with a pull-up 13 footer with 4:11 left for that seven-point lead. In a fourth-quarter with nine lead changes and ties, the Bulls finally seemed to have shaken the Pacers. There were 32 lead changes and ties in the game.

There also were some unaccustomed lineups at the end of regulation with long-forgotten Denzel Valentine playing the most fourth-quarter minutes of anyone and Kris Dunn sitting. Dunn didn't play in the fourth quarter and overtime after making his three shots through three quarters. Thaddeus Young had 16 points on seven of 11 attempts against his most recent team. But he played just five minutes in the fourth quarter and didn't get a shot attempt in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Bulls growing emphasis on LaVine to save them, which has worked well the last month, failed this time. Though even with the different rotations, necessitated by the multiple injuries, the Bulls appeared certain of victory.

The Indianapolis audience was lively in anticipation of the return of All-Star Oladipo, who attended Indiana U. He played off the bench but didn't show much of the explosive play he became noted for before his injury. It was not unexpected. The Pacers led 25-24 after the first quarter with Young scoring six points for the Bulls and then 55-51 at halftime after Indiana built double-digit lead several times. But the quicker Hutchison, taking advantage of former Bull Doug McDermott, was slashing and cutting for scores, getting out on the break and finishing strong with an assortment of post basket flexes and primal screams. Often injured in two seasons, Hutchison finally is starting to show the open court play expected of him as a former first-round draft pick.

"Every game I try to take something from it and move on and try to improve," said Hutchison. "For me offensively, I feel the best is yet to come. If I stay aggressive the averages will play out and eventually, I am going to get there. I've found comfort with playing hard because I pride myself on giving effort and I'll be a positive on the floor if I do that. I just have to keep working and eventually, it will work out."

Though still not shooting well, Dunn has been penetrating to score and had double-digit scoring games the last six. He seemed headed to another until he played 16 minutes Wednesday.

And though the Pacers kept trying to pull away, they never could get much momentum, Coby White with nine third-quarter points and Young with seven had the game tied at 80 entering the fourth quarter. The Bulls also seemed the more energized group, Hutchison diving for a loose ball and getting it to White for a three while Pacers players observed, Luke Kornet rolling down the lane for a pair of dunks and Felicio even with a spin and drop step move in an actual attempt to try to score. And he did!

The Pacers with Domantas Sabonis with 15 points and 11 rebounds had a 46-34 rebounding edge and multiple second chances with 13 offensive rebounds, more than twice the Bulls total. T.J. Warren led Indiana with 25 points. But this time it was the Bulls weak with the ball with 20 turnovers. And though the Bulls had 76 inside points, their three-point shooting again was fatal at six for 33.

Still, it seemed like they'd get that second victory against a team with a winning record when Hutchison scored three times in the fourth with driving dunks and Valentine followed a running score with a lob to LaVine for a dunk. That gave the Bulls a 94-90 lead with 5:59 left. The Pacers didn't like the judging, either, as T.J. McConnell got a technical foul. Then Satoransky made a three on sharp ball movement from LaVine to Young. After Sabonis made one of two free throws, Satoransky's jumper with 4:11 left in regulation seemed enough. Especially when Sabonis was blocked out by Felicio on the next Pacers' possession and then LaVine stole a Malcolm Brogdon pass with just over three minutes remaining and that seven-point lead holding. Unfortunately for the Bulls, their 100 points would also hold for the rest of regulation.

After LaVine missed his fourth straight attempt, three of them threes, sandwiching Valentine and Satoransky turnovers, the Pacers called time trailing by three with 15.3 seconds left. Foul? Probably too much time left. The elongated Hutchison was defending Oladipo, who had run to the inbounds pass. Oladipo was holding the ball like he was thinking what to do so far from the rim. Then Oladipo in a sort of what-the-heck moment just shot. He'd barely hit the rim on most of his shots. So as the Bulls luck has gone this season, the ball floated gracefully through the net. Talk about your scripted finishes.

"Obviously Vic hit that tough shot," said Hutchison. "We've got to get a stop there in that situation. My feet were above the three-line. I just have to be aware. He's an elite player and I felt like I gave a pretty good contest. But I just have to make him put it down in that situation when the three is the only thing that could tie us."

Not really Hutchison's fault. You give a guy who hasn't played in a year a 30 footer. And not that Hutchison did. His defense was reasonable.

But with nine seconds coming out of a timeout, that's usually enough for Zach.

He drove right and veered left into the lane, where Oladipo from behind appeared to grab LaVine's arm in what looked like it could have been a strip. LaVine lost the ball to end regulation and was waving his arms furiously. Which let you know there was a real foul since LaVine rarely complains. Though, like LaVine said, the Bulls never should have needed that.

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Wendell Carter returns but the Bulls come up short in New York

Bulls lose in Toronto

Bulls fall to Pacers on the road

Bulls Win Over Timberwolves

Bulls fall on the road in Milwaukee