SAN ANTONIO _ The Bulls worked all the way back from a 20-point deficit.
And then their lead vanished into the night.
The result was a frustrating 119-100 loss Sunday to the Spurs, the Bulls' ninth loss in 12 games.
This one was particularly demoralizing considering the circumstances.
LaMarcus Aldridge hit his first 11 from the field as the Spurs opened a 30-10 lead.
But the Bulls responded with grit, resolve and made baskets from every player on the floor. A Jimmy Butler 3-pointer gave them a 70-67 lead with about five minutes to play in the third quarter.
It did not last long.
The Spurs (25-6) closed the quarter with a 17-4 run, getting a major lift from Dewayne Dedmon. He dunked twice in a row, the second on a gorgeous alley-oop feed from Patty Mills.
The Bulls (14-16) turned it over three straight times _ an errant Rajon Rondo pass, a Robin Lopez offensive foul and an off-line Lopez pass _ and never recovered. The dagger was a Manu Ginobili 3-pointer that rattled around and in.
The Bulls fell to 13-8 all-time on Christmas.
Dwyane Wade led the Bulls with 24 points on 9-for-16 shooting.
Aldridge, originally drafted second overall by the Bulls in 2006 and traded to the Trail Blazers on draft day, scored a season-high 33 points on 15-for-20 shooting.
