The Bulls have been living out of suitcases lately, which is why their eighth road game in nine overall Wednesday night in Charlotte is more familiar than frustrating.
Still, odd scheduling is the only explanation for bringing the Bulls to face a hot Raptors team Tuesday night at the United Center for only one game in their first home appearance since Jan. 27.
The matchup offered the Bulls more chances at familiarity–mastery of the Raptors and of Eastern Conference teams at home.
But the Bulls failed to take advantage, losing to Toronto in a wild finish for the first time since Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall were running with them on Dec. 6, 2002.
The 112-111 defeat snapped a string of 15 straight victories over Toronto, dropped the Bulls’ record to 15-2 at home against Eastern Conference teams and featured enough bad defense to keep the film machines busy on the charter flight to North Carolina.
Toronto, which has won 11 of 14, had monster games from Chris Bosh and No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani. Bosh finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Bargnani missed his season-high by one point with 22.
Luol Deng’s 30 points led the Bulls.
Ben Gordon, who shot an air ball at the buzzer while trying to draw a foul on T.J. Ford, added 26 points. Kirk Hinrich, who contributed 18 points and 13 assists, walked off the court arguing with official Greg Willard.
Don’t look now, but the Bulls lead the Raptors by only half a game in the conference standings.
The poor defense early wasted a valiant comeback effort as coach Scott Skiles went with a small lineup of Chris Duhon, Gordon, Hinrich, Deng and Tyrus Thomas down the stretch.
The Bulls trailed 110-98 with 4:04 to play before Toronto missed six straight shots and committed a turnover as the Bulls ripped off a 13-0 run.
Duhon hit back-to-back three-pointers, the second coming with 35 seconds remaining, to pull the Bulls to within 110-108. After a Toronto turnover, Gordon scored on a three-point play with 12.8 seconds remaining.
But Bosh then rebounded a shot from Ford that Thomas blocked and drew a foul on the Bulls’ rookie, calmly sinking two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining.
Toronto led by as many as 11 in the second quarter as Skiles, at one point, used a seldom-seen lineup of Duhon, Adrian Griffin, Viktor Khryapa, Thabo Sefolosha and Thomas. Toronto led 56-51 at halftime, with Bargnani scoring 17 on 6 of 7 shooting.
Then came an offensively entertaining third quarter. At one point, the Bulls scored on nine of 10 possessions and Toronto scored on seven of 10.
Gordon’s jumper with 4:48 remaining gave the Bulls their first lead at 71-70, and Deng followed with a jumper for a three-point lead.
But Toronto countered with a quick 14-3 run capped by a four-point possession. Bosh converted a traditional three-point play and Jose Calderon sank a free throw after a technical foul on Malik Allen for slamming the ball into the ground.
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
