Third Quarters Proving Burdensome In Bulls’ Sudden Slump

Well, at least the Bulls got center Nikola Vucevic back. Other than that, Wednesday’s loss to the lowly Rockets could be considered an absolute embarrassment.

The biggest issue was the third quarter, when the Bulls allowed the Rockets to go 8-of-11 on 3-pointers, and committed 10 turnovers, leading to 10 Rockets points.

“We can’t be a good team doing that,’’ coach Billy Donovan said of the third, via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “I don’t know how many games ago was Portland, but to me that’s too close a window in a very short frame of mind to have two games like that. Where you look at those [third] quarters and just say, ‘My God.'”

The Bulls (12-7) have now lost two straight.

“I think it’s just really a collective lack of sense of urgency from us,’’ guard Alex Caruso said. “Concern is an iffy word. If we don’t pay attention to it and do things to get better, then it’s a concern.”

For the record, Vucevic finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds after returning from health and safety protocols.