The Chicago Bulls ran out of gas a quarter mile from the finish line on Tuesday. The Bulls had carved a New Orleans Pelicans 13-point lead to four points in less than two minutes. Every ounce of momentum in the building was behind the home team.

The Bulls' front office hasn't said anything about its plan as the trade deadline Feb. 6 nears, but losses such as the one Tuesday to the nine-win Pelicans should be all the information it needs.