The Chicago Bulls clinched a spot within the NBA postseason Tuesday evening — they usually didn’t even must do the heavy lifting.
However the celebration was short-lived because the Bulls misplaced 123-105 to the Atlanta Hawks an hour later, all however cornering themselves into the least favorable seed.
The Orlando Magic supplied the Bulls with a present by dropping to the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-113, clinching a spot within the play-in match for the Bulls, who're assured to complete no worse than tenth within the Japanese Convention — but in addition unlikely to maneuver any greater after failing to safe the tiebreaker with the Hawks.
With three video games to play, the Bulls (38-41) path the Hawks and Toronto Raptors by two video games, and the Raptors personal the tiebreaker in opposition to the Bulls based mostly on head-to-head file. The Bulls and Hawks cut up 4 video games, so a tiebreaker would come right down to convention file, during which the Bulls presently maintain a half-game edge.
Tuesday’s recreation carried the very best stakes of the ultimate stretch of the season for the Bulls. Whereas the Magic’s loss meant they didn’t have to win to punch their ticket to the play-in match, a win over the Hawks would have given them the head-to-head tiebreaker and pushed them as much as ninth within the standings.
But the Bulls got here out flat-footed, permitting the Hawks to throw a 36-point punch within the first quarter and set up a 20-point lead halfway via the second quarter.
The Bulls scraped again inside eight factors at numerous stretches of the fourth quarter however couldn’t overcome the deficit as they went 7-for-31 behind the 3-point arc whereas struggling to attain at their typical quantity off turnovers.
“This recreation was a must-win recreation for us and clearly we didn’t do it ok,” guard Zach LaVine mentioned. “They needed it greater than us. There ain’t time to dwell on the previous. Clearly you don’t wish to come out flat like this in a very powerful recreation of the 12 months.”
If they continue to be in tenth place, the Bulls would play a single-elimination street recreation in opposition to the ninth seed, with the winner then going through the loser of the 7-8 recreation for a spot within the first spherical of the NBA playoffs.
They technically may climb greater within the standings, however that might require successful out — together with Wednesday’s matchup with the first-place Milwaukee Bucks — plus a sequence of losses by the Hawks and Raptors.
The Bulls had been handed one other benefit when Hawks level guard Trae Younger was too sick with a non-COVID sickness to journey to Chicago for Tuesday’s recreation.
Younger, who was affected by a abdomen bug, is averaging 26.2 factors and 9.9 assists this season and scored 34 factors in opposition to the Bulls in December in Atlanta, scorching them behind the arc with seven 3-pointers. Within the groups’ final assembly in January on the United Middle, Younger scored 21 with 13 assists.
However the Hawks didn’t want Younger to carry their place within the East standings. Bogdan Bogdanovic dominated behind the arc, hitting 5 3-pointers to guide the Hawks with 26 factors.
The loss disrupted a optimistic swing of momentum for the Bulls, who entered the sport hopeful they may strengthen their postseason footing. Incomes the ninth seed — or the seventh seed via a mixture of successful out and losses by higher-seeded groups — would have supplied them with home-court benefit of their first play-in recreation. And if that they had been capable of leap as excessive because the seventh or eighth seed, they may have gained a place within the first spherical of the playoffs with a single win.
It’s simple to tumble down the rabbit gap of “what if” situations at this level within the season. However coach Billy Donovan remained agency that the easiest way for the Bulls to method this closing week is to give attention to what they will management — successful their final three video games.
“I’m following, however I’m not on my telephone checking each quarter,” Donovan mentioned. “I believe for us, actually it’s about what we do and controlling what we will management. I believe in a whole lot of methods, getting wrapped up in what all people else is doing, there’s no management in any of that. It’s actually (about) what do we've got to do.”
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