Amid a losing streak that reached eight games Wednesday night, the Bulls hit new heights in a 101-97 loss against the SuperSonics.
New heights, that is, when it comes to exasperating fans with a starting lineup that wilts under pressure at the United Center.
With 7 minutes 47 seconds left in the third quarter, coach Scott Skiles benched his starters for Othella Harrington, Darius Songaila, Eric Piatkowski, Jannero Pargo and Eddie Basden. Even the rarely used Malik Allen saw action.
“We were clearly not going to win staying with the way that was going,” Skiles said. “We had very little life. At that point, you have to mix it up.”
All played a role in chipping away at 14-point Bulls’ deficit before a crowd of 19,418.
Playing a tune with a ring all too familiar, the Bulls came up short despite closing the deficit to two points with less than a minute left thanks to back-to-back three-pointers by Songaila and Ben Gordon, who led the team with 21 points.
Shooting 68.8 percent from the free-throw line came back to haunt the Bulls. Free throws have been an issue for the team all season. Harrington missed three in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls were missing Tyson Chandler, whom Skiles doesn’t expect to return for Friday night’s game at Milwaukee and Saturday night’s game against Memphis.
Chandler sprained his right ankle against the Bucks on Monday. An MRI didn’t show anything more serious, Skiles said, but he expects him to miss at least a week. Chandler walked around with a protective boot Wednesday.
