Rose-less Bulls look flat in home loss to Hornets

Less than 24 hours after finding out that Derrick Rose would require yet another knee surgery, the Chicago Bulls looked like a deflated team in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

The Hornets outscored the Bulls 31-21 in the fourth quarter to leave Chicago with a 98-86 victory, handing the Bulls their first home loss in five games. 

Pau Gasol led the way for the Bulls with a valiant 25-point, 13-rebound, four-block performance, while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist poured in 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets.

With the win, Charlotte improved to 23-32 and moved into a tie with the Brooklyn Nets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls fell to 36-22, seeing their half-game lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division disappear.

Chicago is still 7-5 without Rose this season, and has the talent and depth to remain in the hunt for a top-three seed in the East. But it faces a daunting schedule over the next two weeks, including games against the Clippers, Wizards, Thunder, Spurs and Grizzlies.

Rose, who could undergo surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear as early as Friday, has not yet been ruled out for the season. A timetable for his return will be announced after the procedure.