SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Better effort, same result.
In what could be their final game under interim coach Pete Myers, the Chicago Bulls put up a stiff challenge against the defending NBA champions before the San Antonio Spurs pulled away for a 109-98 win.
Amid speculation that Scott Skiles will be named coach as early as Friday, the Bulls played their second game under Myers - who replaced the fired Bill Cartwright on Monday. Myers' first game was an embarrassing 124-98 loss at Dallas on Tuesday.
The Bulls, who have won just four of 16 games this season, were better in this one and trailed just 87-82 with 5:39 to go. But the Spurs got clutch contributions down the stretch from Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan.
Parker had four points and Ginobili the other three in a 7-0 run that sealed San Antonio's fifth straight win against the Bulls.
"The Bulls did a good job," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "They're playing hard even though things haven't gone their way. They've had some turmoil and got their butts kicked last night. You have to give them credit for the way they played."
"I was really satisfied, really pleased, even though we didn't come out with the victory," Myers said.
As to his status, Myers said, "I was happy to get an opportunity to coach this team. The good thing about (the new coach) is to get a new start. That is what it should be about.
"The next couple of days are going to be a new experience for our team," Bulls forward Jalen Rose said. "Anytime there is an air of uncertainty, things can be tough."
Ginobili finished with 17 points while Duncan had 16 and Parker 15.
Eddy Curry and Lonny Baxter scored 19 points apiece for Chicago, which has dropped seven straight overall.
San Antonio led 49-44 at halftime but opened the third quarter with a 12-5 run that pushed the lead to double digits. The cushion was 12 heading to the final period, but Chicago used an 8-0 spurt and got within 83-80 on a 3-pointer by Donyell Marshall with 6:29 to go.
The Spurs' edge was 87-82 when Ginobili completed a three-point play with 5:17 remaining. Parker followed with back-to-back baskets as San Antonio extended its lead to 12 points with 4:27 to go.
"It was a close game and we had to do something to change that," Parker said. "We had to be aggressive."
Chicago was without Scottie Pippen, who suffered a left corneal abrasion in Tuesday's game, and Tyson Chandler, who is battling a sore lower back. Myers also kept Marcus Fizer on the bench throughout.
