The Bulls have been inching back toward .500. The last time they were at that mark was Oct. 30, when they were 2-2.
They had a great opportunity to close that gap further against the Raptors, who came into the United Center 12th in the Eastern Conference and riding a five-game losing streak.
Instead, the Bulls took a step in the wrong direction with a 118-107 loss, dropping them to 22-26.
Turnovers were the dagger for the Bulls, especially late in the game.
They gave up 11 points off six turnovers in the fourth quarter and 30 points off 20 turnovers for the game.
“The turnovers were a big factor,” coach Billy Donovan said. “The thing we got fortunate on was they turned it over 19 times, as well.”
For a moment in the fourth quarter, it appeared that forward DeMar DeRozan was about to tap into his typical late-game heroics. Trailing by six, the Bulls got the ball out in transition, and DeRozan slammed down a statement dunk. Moments later, the Raptors’ lead was back up to nine after back-to-back Bulls turnovers.
DeRozan had 25 points and five assists. Center Nikola Vucevic added 14 points and nine rebounds, and guard Coby White finished with 13 points and six assists.
Guard Ayo Dosunmu extended his double-digit scoring streak to eight games, finishing with 21 points and five rebounds.
“He’s done a good job with his shot preparation early,” Donovan said. “It’s [attributable] to the work he’s put in.”
After leading by 10 at the half, the Bulls increased their lead to 13 in the third quarter before the Raptors went on a 15-6 run to take their first lead with less than three minutes to go.
“They were driving the ball down our throat,” Donovan said. “That stood out more [in the second half] because we didn’t score at the same rate.”
The Bulls shot 42.9% from the field in the second half compared to 57.5% in the first half. DeRozan and Vucevic attributed the second-half issues to a lack of aggressiveness.
The Raptors, led by Thaddeus Young and Bruce Brown, shot 60.9% in the third quarter and outscored the Bulls 22-10 in the paint.
“It’s a critical time,” DeRozan said, “a critical point in the season. We need every game, especially wanting to close this thing out as strong as possible going into the break.”
In the last minute of the third quarter, the injury-plagued Bulls took another hit when Dalen Terry fell hard to the floor after running out in transition. Donovan said the initial X-rays came back negative and that it was a sprained ankle.
Zach LaVine missed his fifth game since injuring his right ankle in the Bulls’ road victory against the Raptors on Jan. 18.
Donovan said there was no update on his status. According to the Bulls’ most recent timeline, which was provided ahead of their loss to the Lakers, LaVine is expected to be re-evaluated Thursday.
He has missed 22 of the Bulls’ last 29 games. The Bulls are 12-10 without him.
