The Bulls have reached the point of the season when every game falls into the must-win category.

“They're all big heading down the stretch now,” coach Fred Hoiberg said prior to the Bulls' 117-95 win over the Pistons on Wednesday at the United Center.

For a team that has been searching for its identity since Opening Night, is being on the outside of the Eastern Conference postseason race with the season winding down the truest test of character of the group?

“Yeah, I think so,” Hoiberg said. “It's all about going out there and competing and having each other's back, fighting through adversity as well as you can.”

Hoiberg said he believes Bulls players understand their predicament and they are ready to maintain urgency with their play.

“I think our guys understand it,” Hoiberg said. “I thought we did come out with great urgency (during a 122-120 overtime loss to the Raptors on Tuesday night) and played as good a stretch of basketball as we have all year.

“Unfortunately, we couldn't finish it off, but that's the type of urgency we need.”

Payne plan: The Bulls recalled Cameron Payne from the Windy City Bulls of the D-League. The guard had 22 points, six rebounds and six assists during a 124-116 victory over Westchester on Tuesday. Hoiberg wouldn't reveal whether Payne would remain with the Bulls or head back to the D-League. “We'll see how it goes,” Hoiberg said.