CHICAGO _ Back-to-backs haven't been too kind to the Bulls. Heck, all games haven't been too kind to the Bulls, who own the league's worst record in the first season of a full rebuild.
But entering Friday's game, which came less than 24 hours after a tough, last-second loss to the Nuggets, the Bulls had lost their three back ends to a back-to-back by an average of 25 points.
A 107-106 loss to the Kings proved closer but no solace as the losing streak grew to a season-high eight games. That's two one-point losses in two nights, although this one came when Jerian Grant sank a non-defended 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The schedule doesn't get easier: The red-hot Cavaliers visit the United Center on Monday, followed by a two-game trip at the Pacers and Hornets and then home games against the Knicks, Celtics and Jazz.
Losing on a night when the Bulls received season-best contributions from Paul Zipser and Cristiano Felicio, who both have struggled mightily this season, makes the night all the more painful. Zipser scored 14 points and reached double figures on consecutive nights for the first time since Games 2 and 3 of last spring's playoff series versus the Celtics. Felicio scored a season-high 12 points.
Grant's 17 points led six Bulls in double figures. David Nwaba added nine points, nine rebounds and six assists.
When last seen on the court, Nwaba had earned a starting spot. Active on Thursday in Denver for the first time since severely spraining his right ankle on Nov. 4, Nwaba didn't play because Hoiberg said he wanted to get the guard one more day of workouts.
Nwaba picked up right where he left off, making impact plays at both ends.
As usual, the Bulls had their share of chances. Justin Holiday missed a wide-open 3-pointer with 105 seconds left and the Bulls down by two. Zach Randolph than snuck behind Robin Lopez to rebound Bogdan Bogdanovic's airball and push the Kings ahead by four with 51.5 seconds left.
Lopez sank a baseline jumper with 42.8 seconds left to trim the deficit back to two. But De'Aaron Fox cut for a dunk off a nifty feed from Willie Cauley-Stein out of a double-team with 24.2 seconds left.
Lauri Markkanen, who finished 5 for 13, followed with an airball out of a timeout.
