Whenever the Bulls end this seemingly endless drought of road losses on the annual November circus trip, this game will be a distant memory.
But on Wednesday night at Oakland Arena, the pain proved very deep and very real.
The Bulls, trailing by double digits most of the game, erased all but two points of a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter only to fall to Golden State 100-94 before a crowd of 13,721.
The losing streak now stands at 23 games in the last four seasons and counting, with Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers looming Friday in Los Angeles.
Jalen Rose, who played the entire game, scored 13 of his game-high 34 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulls awoke from a slumber that had allowed Golden State to build a 51-37 rebounding advantage.
“We got pushed around,” Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said. “I kept searching for guys looking to play and I couldn’t find any until late.”
Rose scored four points in 11 seconds, hitting one free throw with 2 minutes 26 seconds remaining and a three-pointer after Donyell Marshall grabbed one of his 15 rebounds on Rose’s second miss from the line.
Rose’s quick four points cut the Bulls’ deficit, which was as large as 17, to 96-94.
But Gilbert Arenas, who had 16 points and 11 assists, drove past Jay Williams for a layup.
On the ensuing possession, Cartwright signaled for a timeout.
But Williams thought he saw an opening and drove to the basket, only to have his shot blocked by Adonal Foyle.
Foyle had eight blocks.
“That was a huge play in the game,” Cartwright said.
“Jay took a chance and got it blocked. I was very disappointed.”
Said Williams, who had 11 points and four assists: “Not a great move on my part.”
Arenas missed two free throws with 24.5 seconds remaining to give the Bulls some life. But Rose dribbled the ball off his foot as he drove, one of his six turnovers.
As Jason Richardson tacked on two free throws, Rose kicked the scorer’s table in disgust.
Antawn Jamison led Golden State with 25 points, while former Notre Dame star Troy Murphy added 17 points and 13 rebounds.
