Chicago Bulls Playoff Hopes Slowly Fading Away After Narrow Defeat to Indiana Pacers

• Chicago Bulls were handed a painful 125-122 defeat by the Indiana Pacers, putting their playoff chances in serious danger
• They are now 3-9 in their last 12 games and sit 12th in the Eastern Conference
• Tyrese Haliburton scored a game-winner with 2.7 seconds remaining

The Chicago Bulls suffered a painful 125-122 defeat to the Indiana Pacers, a crushing blow to their Play-In tournament chances.

Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton sank a 30-foot 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left, and Nikola Vucevic missed a game-tying shot at the buzzer.

The six-time NBA champions are now 3-9 in their last 12 games and face a tough run of fixtures against NBA title contenders. Zach Lavine's 42 points were not enough to give them a win, per ESPN.

The Pacers and Bulls have a 29-36 record, but the visitors won the season series 3-1, giving them the advantage. Billy Donovan's team are now 12th in the Eastern Conference.

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Bulls playoff chances

Haliburton's game-winner came after Lavin missed a free throw after he was fouled by Bennedict Mathurin while attempting a three-pointer. He sank two but missed one that would've given the hosts the lead with 22.6 seconds left.

Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic admitted that the team's playoff chances may not be on their hands.

“It doesn’t really depend on us anymore,” Vučević said. “I mean, it does. We have to win. But we’re depending on the people in front of us, on how they do. So it’s hard to say after 65 games we didn’t figure it out. It’s tough to believe that something’s just going to (click) like that. We’ll see. We’re going to keep fighting, keep hoping something happens. But it’s obvious we’ve put ourselves in a very difficult spot now,” via the Athletic.

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The Bulls were looking to make consecutive postseason appearances in the postseason, but their hopes are slowly dwindling.

They haven't been .500 since November 7, and the Bulls rank fourth in the five-team Central Division.

Beverley sends warning to Lakers

Sports Brief earlier reported on newly acquired Bulls guard Patrick Beverley sending a warning to his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Knock them out the playoffs."

Beverley was traded to the Orlando Magic before the February 9th Trade deadline but was soon waived by coach Jamahl Mosley's team. Although other teams sought his signature, he chose his hometown team.