The Bulls' locker room had almost as many questions as answers after losing to the Hornets 103-91 Friday night.

As reporters quizzed the normally mild-mannered Robin Lopez about his first ejection with the Bulls, Rajon Rondo chimed in from a few feet away: "Y'all want to talk about the game or anything?"

Meanwhile Taj Gibson, who was ejected shortly before Lopez, was asked what set him off. His initial reply: "What do you think?"

It was not posed with hostility. Gibson genuinely wanted the reporter's take on why he was upset.

It started when official Nick Buchert slapped him with a technical after Gibson protested a call from the bench, rising from his seat.

"I stood up and raised my hands," Gibson said. "That's usually not a technical. And then the same guy who 'teched' me, he 'teched' me again."

Gibson said he, and perhaps Lopez, were annoyed that Doug McDermott had been assessed an offensive foul for kicking out his leg on a jump shot. But Kemba Walker, who scored nine fourth-quarter points and 20 in the game, was not penalized.

"Kemba kicks his leg out, Doug kicks his leg out," Gibson said. "No call on Kemba, call on Doug."

As the officials discussed whether to eject Lopez, Gibson earned his second technical.

"They have to do a better job, that's all I said," Gibson said. "They have to get a hold of the game. They can't let it get out of hand like that, guys throwing elbows and cheap shots.

"I said y'all gotta do better. You've been around a long time. Same way we have to be held accountable to do our job."

Gibson added: "Rough way to end the game."

Photos from the Bulls-Hornets game on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, in Charlotte.

Will to return: Will Bynum, the veteran guard who starred at Crane High School, is joining the Windy City Bulls of the NBA Development League. The 6-footer has appeared in 360 NBA games for the Warriors, Pistons and Wizards. He also played in China before getting a look from the Hawks in the preseason.

Full-court press: Michael Carter-Williams will not make his long-awaited return from a knee injury on Christmas Day in San Antonio but is expected to be back soon.

"Hopefully when we get back from this trip, he'll get a good full-contact practice where he's able to get up and down," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We wanted to keep him in the half court (Thursday) to see how he'd respond to that first. The next step is a full five-on-five. If he continues to go through these sessions without any setbacks, we anticipate having Michael back very soon."