The Chicago Bulls clinched a spot within the NBA postseason Tuesday evening — and so they didn’t even must do the heavy lifting.
But 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 shedding to the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-113, clinching a spot within the play-in event for the Bulls, who’re assured to complete no worse than tenth within the Eastern Conference — but in addition unlikely to maneuver any increased 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 towards the Bulls based mostly on head-to-head report. The Bulls and Hawks cut up 4 video games, so a tiebreaker would come all the way down to convention report, wherein 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. While the Magic’s loss meant they didn’t have to win to punch their ticket to the play-in event, a win over the Hawks would have given them the head-to-head tiebreaker and pushed them as much as ninth within the standings.
Yet 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 by way of the second quarter.
The Bulls scraped again inside eight factors at varied 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 game was a must-win game for us and obviously we didn’t do it good enough,” guard Zach LaVine stated. “They wanted it more than us. There ain’t time to dwell on the past. Obviously you don’t want to come out flat like this in the most important game of the year.”
If they continue to be in tenth place, the Bulls would play a single-elimination street recreation towards 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 might climb increased within the standings, however that will require successful out — together with Wednesday’s matchup with the first-place Milwaukee Bucks — plus a collection of losses by the Hawks and Raptors.
The Bulls have been handed one other benefit when Hawks level guard Trae Young was too sick with a non-COVID sickness to journey to Chicago for Tuesday’s recreation.
Young, who was affected by a abdomen bug, is averaging 26.2 factors and 9.9 assists this season and scored 34 factors towards the Bulls in December in Atlanta, scorching them behind the arc with seven 3-pointers. In the groups’ final assembly in January on the United Center, Young scored 21 with 13 assists.
But the Hawks didn’t want Young 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. Earning the ninth seed — or the seventh seed by way of a mix 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 straightforward to tumble down the rabbit gap of “what if” eventualities at this level within the season. But coach Billy Donovan remained agency that the easiest way for the Bulls to strategy this ultimate week is to deal with what they’ll management — successful their final three video games.
“I’m following, but I’m not on my phone checking every quarter,” Donovan stated. “I think for us, really it’s about what we do and controlling what we can control. I think in a lot of ways, getting wrapped up in what everybody else is doing, there’s no control in any of that. It’s really (about) what do we have to do.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com