Monday night the Chicago Bulls had a 35-point lead over the visiting Sacramento Kings, but wound up losing the game 102-98.
John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:
The Bulls were up 79-44 early in the third quarter and scored only 19 points the rest of the way, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Just when it seemed the Bulls (10-16) were getting things turned around — and Del Negro was safe for the time being — they managed a new low this season.
Some of the grim numbers:
– Besides scoring only 10 points, the Bulls were 2-for-10 from the field with nine turnovers in the fourth quarter.
– They scored their last field goal with 10:15 left on an 18-footer by Kirk Hinrich for a 92-74 lead.
– During one stretch in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Bulls committed turnovers on six of seven possessions.
– By contrast, the Kings (13-14) scored 33 points in the fourth, including 17 in the final 3:08.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports:
Vying for their second three-game winning streak this season, the Bulls instead suffered a complete collapse, losing all of a 35-point third-quarter lead in a stunning 102-98 loss to the Kings.
After a torrid start that featured season highs for points in a quarter and a half, the Bulls made just two fourth-quarter field goals and got outscored 33-10. Rarely has a laugher turned so serious so suddenly.
“We’re not good enough to take a minute off, let alone a half,” coach Vinny Del Negro said.
Derrick Rose’s driving attempt to tie with 7.9 seconds left fell woefully short, and Noah failed to exit a scrum with the rebound. Beno Udrih grabbed the loose ball and was fouled, making two free throws for the final margin.
Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports:
The Bulls (10-16) took control of this game right from the start and scored a season-high 67 points in the first half. They opened the third quarter with a 12-1 run to open the fateful 79-44 advantage.
At that point, the Bulls seemed to shut down and start thinking how many points they were going to score instead of doing the same things that built the lead.
The Bulls on Tuesday visit the Knicks in New York.
