Bulls Can't Rally Past Red-Hot Hawks
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jeff Teague scored 26 points, including two free throws with just over six seconds to play, and the surging Atlanta Hawks fought off a furious Chicago rally for a 102-100 win Monday night.
It was the fourth straight win for the Hawks. Though the Bulls mounted a dramatic late comeback, they continued a late-season swoon, losing their fourth straight.
The Bulls were down as much as 15 in the second half, but stormed back in the fourth quarter and were down three with the ball with eight seconds to play. Chicago's Mike Dunleavy missed a layup, though, and fouled Teague, whose free throws sealed Atlanta's ninth win in 10 games.
Dennis Schroder and Al Horford each added 14 points for Atlanta. Paul Millsap had 11 rebounds and Horford added 10 for the Hawks, who completed a season sweep of the Bulls.
Derrick Rose had 20 points for the Bulls. Kyle Korver had 12 points and Millsap had 11 for Atlanta.
While the Hawks (45-30) are closing in on the playoffs, the loss further dimmed Chicago's hopes of getting the final spot in the Eastern conference.
With the loss, the Bulls (36-37), fell 2 1/2 games behind Detroit, which currently holds the eighth place spot, the cutoff for the playoffs.
Pau Gasol scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds, while Aaron Brooks added 16 points and Jimmy Butler had 15 for the Bulls. Taj Gibson had 12 rebounds for Chicago.
The Bulls started the game fast, getting out to an 8-0 lead before Atlanta scored, and Chicago had a 31-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.
But after opening up a 13-point lead early in the second quarter, Chicago went cold, going more than seven minutes without a field goal during the period.
During that time, the Bulls missed 14 straight shots, including three that were blocked and the Hawks held a 52-45 halftime lead.
The Hawks added to the lead in the second half, going up by as much as 15 as Chicago shot poorly from the field before its late comeback effort.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Without G E'Twaun Moore for a sixth game because of a left hamstring injury. Coach Fred Hoiberg said he hoped Moore would be able to play by the end of the week.
Hawks: Atlanta's 4-0 record against the Bulls marks its first season sweep of Chicago since 2008-2009, and only its second since the team moved to Atlanta before the 1968-69 season.
UP NEXT
Bulls: At Indiana on Tuesday.
Hawks: At Toronto on Wednesday.
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