This wasn’t exactly how the Bulls envisioned beginning their two months without starting center Joakim Noah, but it had to be precisely how former Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro hoped his return to the United Center would go.
Despite playing for a second consecutive night and going against a well-rested (though short-handed) Bulls team, the Clippers made Del Negro’s homecoming a triumphant one with a 100-99 victory that snapped the Bulls’ seven-game winning streak.
The Bulls trailed 100-98 but had a chance to force overtime when Derrick Rose was fouled with eight-tenths of a second left. He missed the second of his two free throws, though, leaving the Bulls a point short.
Wins anywhere have been special for the Clippers (7-21) this season, but Del Negro was asked if this one was a little more special because he was fired by the Bulls in May.
“Probably, just because of the situation with me coaching here the last couple of years,” he said. “But it’s still all about the players. Hopefully, this gives us confidence going forward.”
The Bulls (16-9) had been confident they could survive the loss of Noah as he recovers from thumb surgery, but this was a game where they could have used Noah’s size against Clippers rookie Blake Griffin (29 points, 12 rebounds).
But Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau insisted his team’s problems went way beyond Noah’s absence.
“In that game, our problem was our intensity to start,” Thibodeau said. “In this league, you have to come ready to play every night. And if you don’t, you’re asking for trouble.”
It also didn’t help matters that Taj Gibson, who started at center, played only nine minutes. He was saddled with foul trouble in the first half (thanks to Griffin), then left with a concussion in the third quarter.
Rose led the Bulls with 34 points and eight assists, and Carlos Boozer added 25 points.
The Bulls had a miserable first half defensively, surrendering 61 points on 22-for-36 (61 percent) shooting. The Clippers entered the game averaging 96.1 points on 45 percent shooting.
The Clippers had a 61-53 halftime lead and took an 83-76 edge into the fourth quarter. The Bulls pulled to 86-83 four minutes into the final quarter on a drive by Rose, but Eric Bledsoe made a three-pointer and Eric Gordon followed with a basket to boost the Clippers’ lead back up to 91-83 with seven minutes left.
The Clippers led 99-91 with just more than a minute to go, but the Bulls rallied and found themselves with a chance to tie, thanks to some good plays on their part and some bad plays by the Clippers.
Trailing 100-98, the Bulls inbounded the ball at halfcourt. Rose drove to the basket and drew a foul with eight-tenths of a second left.
He made the first free throw, but his second attempt was short, and the Clippers grabbed the rebound to seal the upset victory.
Rose said he was confident heading to the line.
“I was [thinking I’m] gonna hit ’em,” he said. “That’s basketball. I hope I get put in that position again. I know I’m not going to miss.”
