CHICAGO — In the franchise history of undesirable Bulls scenarios — along the lines of, say,Dennis Rodmaninsulting the Mormons orDalibor Bagaricplaying at all — having Jannero Pargo guardSteve Nashwould have to rank up there.

That’s not to deride completely Pargo’s effort on the two-time most valuable player during the Suns’ 111-105 victory over the Bulls on Tuesday night at United Center because Pargo actually acquitted himself fairly admirably.

It is to say that losingKirk Hinrichto a sprained left ankle late in the first half further stretched thin a Bulls team already withoutLuol Dengand running out of playoff lives.

Speaking of undesirable scenarios: The Bulls now trail the Raptors for the final Eastern Conference berth by 1 1/2 games with eight to play. The Raptors own the tiebreaker and play host to a Clippers team finishing a back-to-back withoutBaron Davison Wednesday.

The Bulls will be replaying the painful memories of this loss perhaps all offseason.

The Suns grabbed their first lead of the fourth quarter at 98-97 with 3 minutes, 1 second remaining. Nash trappedFlip Murrayon a screen, andJason Richardson, who led the Suns with 27 points, buried a 3-pointer.

Derrick Rose, who tied Murray for team-high honors with 23 points, countered with a floater with 2:48 remaining.

Nash, who had 22 points and 10 assists, beat Pargo for a lane jumper with 1:54 to play beforeBrad Millersneaked inside to draw a foul onAmare Stoudemiretrying to rebound Pargo’s miss. That kept the possession alive and led to two Rose free throws with 1:36 left to make it 101-100 Bulls.

Miller got caught guarding Nash on a switch, and Nash crossed him over, scored and drew Miller’s fifth foul for a three-point play with 1:14 to play. Rose tied the score by drawing a foul on Stoudemire with 59.8 seconds left and sinking both free throws.

ButTaj Gibsongot caught sleeping watching a Nash-Stoudemire screen-and-roll from the weak side, leavingChanning Fryeall alone to bury a 3-pointer with 41.6 seconds left.

Rose blew down the lane for a left-handed layup with 37.7 seconds left to make it 106-105 Suns. Nash drove on Pargo and fedGrant Hillfor a dunk with 23.2 seconds left.

The Bulls then inexplicably had Rose hoist a double-pump 3-point attempt that missed badly, forcing Miller to foul Nash intentionally with 13.1 seconds left. Nash sank both free throws to seal the Suns’ eighth straight victory and a playoff berth.

Earlier, the Bulls stormed back from a 12-point, first-quarter deficit to grab a 60-57 lead when Murray got hot. He scored 14 points, including three 3-pointers, during a second quarter in which the bench scored 31 of the Bulls’ 35.

But the half ended badly. Beyond Hinrich’s sprained ankle,Chris Richardgot whistled for a flagrant foul onJarron Collinswith 1.2 seconds left, and Noah drew a technical foul arguing the call as the teams walked off the court.