The Chicago Bulls' three-year reign as National Basketball Association champions is slipping away because the New York Knicks are stripping the basketball with an annoying fourth-quarter defense that has produced a 2-0 series lead.

"They put the physical pressure on you the whole game and by the fourth quarter you wear down," Bulls coach Phil Jackson said Thursday.

The Bulls had a 15-point lead in the second half of Game 1 but shot only five of 16 in the final period and lost 90-86.

In Game 2 Wednesday night, Chicago led by eight in the second half but was shut out for more than five minutes to start the final period. The Bulls missed 12 of 16 shots in the quarter.

In the two games, the Knicks have outscored Chicago 55-34 in the fourth quarter.

"I take pleasure in shutting a team down in the fourth quarter. I like the look they get on their faces," said New York's rugged forward, Anthony Mason.

The Bulls' Scottie Pippen, who had 22 points and missed 10 of 15 shots before fouling out Wednesday night, said: "We need to finish off games when we have the lead in the fourth quarter. I feel we'll play a lot better at home.

"When they're pressing us and we're on the road, you can't hear your teammates telling you the shot clock is running down. That will help a lot when we're back home. …