Morning Box Score: Bulls Lose First Division Game

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 19, 2011 2:00PM

The Bulls can find positives from every game, even in last night's 115-108 overtime loss to Indiana, which snapped the Bulls nine-game winning streak and ended the team's attempt to become the first team in NBA history to go undefeated in their division. Trailing by as many as 20 points throughout the game, the Bulls stormed back in the fourth quarter thanks to (who else?) Derrick Rose. Rose scored a game high 42 points and single-handedly forced overtime by scoring 19 of the Bulls' final 20 points in regulation.

The team defense had, by all accounts, an off night, allowing the Pacers' Tyler Hansbrough to have open looks at the basket all night. Hansbrough scored a team-high 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. The Pacers defense also got the job done in overtime, holding the Bulls to 1-of-11 shooting during the overtime period. that it took until mid-March for the Bulls to lose their first Central Division game speaks volumes for how far the team has progressed in head coach Tom Thibodeau's first season. As much as the hype machine has been touting Rose for NBA MVP, Thibodeau should be the leading candidate for Coach of the Year.

The Bulls come back home for a Monday contest against the Sacramento Kings.