Heck, schedule the woeful Kings more often, whom the Bulls beat 99-94 Tuesday night, and a .500 record might not be out of the question.

"People gave me [grief] about calling it a rebuilding year, but it was because everything was new to us," Gooden said. "We had a rookie point guard who was going to be a leader for us, a new coach and guys were going to have different roles.

"We've had a little slippage here of late. But we can make that back up and be in good position for the playoffs."

Calling the recent stretch of six losses in seven games and three consecutive dreadful performances "a little slippage" is like saying Gooden's beard is normal. At least the Bulls moved somewhat back to that state despite a nervous finish against a Kings team that has lost 12 straight road games.

Derrick Rose's lean-in bank shot with 33.4 seconds left pushed the Bulls ahead 95-91. Kevin Martin then made the final two of three free throws with 21.9 seconds left after Larry Hughes fouled him on a three-pointer.

Gooden, fouled intentionally, split two free throws with 21.2 seconds remaining. Tyrus Thomas fouled Martin with 13.9 seconds left, and he made the first free throw, missed the second -- and then missed a short baseline jumper after Brad Miller rebounded his free throw.

Gooden only split two free throws with 9.1 seconds left. But Martin missed on a drive and the Kings were forced to foul.

The Bulls flirted with establishing a franchise record for free-throw perfection by making their first 29. The current record came Feb. 9, 1977, when the Bulls sank all 25 in a loss at Houston.

Hughes, however, missed the second of two with 61 seconds left, and Martin scored at the other end to make it 93-91.

Ben Gordon's 24 points led the Bulls, who also got 16 points and eight assists from Rose and a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) from Gooden.

Martin's 29 points led the Kings.

"We haven't played consistently at either end, especially defensively, and we know that," coach Vinny Del Negro said.

"It's not for lack of effort. We're young and this is a process. People don't want to hear that, but it is. We have to develop these young guys and see what we have.

"We have a rookie point guard who has played well but still has a long way to go to be the player I know he can be. We've had a lot of injuries and a tough schedule. Everyone has to do a better job.

"Fans want to see guys who work hard. We've done that for the majority of the season, but some games, we haven't been as consistent in that area and that concerns me. We have to get better."

kcjohnson@tribune.com