Tue, 12/08 Bulls vs Nets

The Bulls face their first four-games-in-five-nights stretch beginning Tuesday against the 1-19 Nets, but overconfidence is in as short of supply as healthy bodies.

"They could beat us as easy as Toronto did if we don't come out the right way," John Salmons said.

Such stretches long have been considered the NBA's ultimate endurance test. And if the Bulls are counting on reinforcements, it might not happen.

Coach Vinny Del Negro surprisingly said he didn't expect either Kirk Hinrich or Tyrus Thomas to begin practicing this week.

"Maybe the end of the week, but that's a day-to-day thing," he said.

Hinrich, who has missed five games with a sprained left thumb, said on Saturday he had targeted this week for his return to game action. It's unclear if Hinrich suffered a setback.

Because of the blowout loss Saturday to Toronto, Lindsey Hunter played 26 minutes, 30 seconds and clearly hobbled afterward. Jannero Pargo and Aaron Gray are battling aches and pains.

Taj Gibson visited the trainer's room after practice Monday after limping from banging his knee while playing one-on-one.

Gibson is expected to play, but the point is obvious: The Bulls have few options.

The good news for the Bulls: It's a long season.

The bad news for the Bulls: It's a long season.

A 103-101 home loss to the 2-19 Nets ranks the season's low point.

The Bulls took a 100-99 lead on a Derrick Rose short floater with 19.5 seconds left. Following a timeout, Devin Harris answered with a similar shot to put the Nets ahead 101-100 with 14.9 seconds left.

John Salmons missed a shot from the top of the key with 7.1 seconds to go.

The Bulls are in no position to pity the Nets, who opened the season 0-18 but came in energized against the 7-12 Bulls. The Nets were off to the worst start in NBA history before they beat the Bobcats. They lost their next time out against the Knicks.

Both teams are offensively challenged as the Nets average an NBA-low 87.6 points per game; the Bulls come in two from the bottom at 90.4.

"I have been on a team that went 0-9," said Bulls forward Luol Deng, who had 14 first-half points and finished with 27, tying Rose for game honors. "I know what it is like when you are working hard in practice and you just can't get a win. Once you get a win, your confidence starts going up. I think (the Nets) are trying to turn that page right now."