(670 The Score) The Bulls were left with a series of regrets in blowing a nine-point lead with less than four minutes left in an eventual 129-128 loss to the Warriors at the United Center on Sunday evening, which left them heartbroken as they eyed their first win of the young season.
Part of what the Bulls could lament was the late officiating, as the NBA acknowledged Monday that two calls were missed before Warriors guard Damion Lee hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left and another one was missed in the final minute that also hurt the Bulls.
The Warriors should’ve been ruled for a five-second inbounding violation as Lee looked to trigger the ball with 5.0 seconds left, the league’s last two-minute report said. Lee took about six seconds to inbound the ball to center Kevon Looney, who handed it back to Lee before he quickly fired up the winning shot.
Prior to the inbounds pass, the NBA also ruled Looney should’ve been called for an offensive foul as he screened Bulls guard Coby White, who was closely chasing Warriors star Steph Curry around picks and traffic in an effort to keep the ball out of his hands. Looney illegally continued to re-establish himself in White’s path after the initial contact, the NBA wrote in its last two-minute report.
“We wanted to do everything we could to take it out of Steph’s hands late,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said postgame. “Give their credit. He made a really, really tough shot.”
With 34.4 seconds left, Warriors wing Kelly Oubre Jr. also should’ve been whistled for a foul as Bulls guard Zach LaVine drove from the top of the key. LaVine missed a tough layup in traffic shortly after that body contact from Oubre. While the foul would’ve been whistled before the shot, the Warriors were in the penalty, meaning LaVine would’ve gotten two free throws with the Bulls leading 126-124.
The Bulls are off to an 0-3 start. Chicago visits the Washington Wizards (0-3) on Tuesday night.
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.