Bulls avoid that losing feeling for a night but it's still taking toll

Guard Collin Sexton was a big reason why the Bulls pulled the upset on Thursday, as the vet scored 30 points and handed out five assists.Rick Scuteri/AP

PHOENIX – There was a lot of losing under Joe Mullaney his first few years at Providence College, but once the former coach retired and Rick Pitino took over, a young guard named Billy Donovan forgot what losing basketball looked like.

And not for the short term, either.

The rest of his college career, his time as an assistant coach, and then once Donovan finally sat in the coaching seat himself, winning season after winning season. Sure, there were a few down years every now and then, but both in college and the NBA, Donovan and winning were…