Chicago Bulls beat Miami Heat 103-82 – NBA Recap
Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose chipped in 28 points and Luol Deng finished with 21 points as the top-seeded Chicago Bulls took a 103-82 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference
finals on Sunday, May 15.
The second-seeded Heat held a one-point edge with less than eight minutes remaining in the third period, but Chicago ended the play on a 46-24 flurry and fired the opening salvo in this anticipated
series.
"We got a little bit of a cushion," said Chicago Coach Tom Thibodeau. "Then our defence picked up."
Chris Bosh led Miami with 30 points while Dwyane Wade and LeBron James each had 18 points and 15 points respectively.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday in Chicago.
Although just three Chicago players scored in double figures, but they got assistance from all over.
The reserve forward Taj Gibson, who posted only nine points, provided a spark at both ends. He dunked on Wade in the first half and blocked James on a drive in the second.
Gibson also provided the contest with its signature moment. He threw down a one-handed dunk for the last of Bulls’ 103 points.
"There are wins and losses in the play-offs, and nothing else," said Miami Coach Erik Spoelstra.
Chicago limited the Heat to only 13 field goals in the second half. Miami could not even get to the foul line in the third period.
"We have to get better," said Spoelstra, "and we'll make those adjustments."
Chicago used a 10-0 burst in the third frame to put pressure on the red-hot Heat, which knocked off the battle-tested Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Rose and Keith Bogans drained back-to-back three-point plays to put the Bulls up by five points, 63-58. Rose then collected five points during the run, which gave Chicago a 67-58 advantage.
Gibson collected an offensive rebound and made a pass to Deng at the top of the arc for a three-point play that kept the Bulls’ advantage at nine points, 72-63, heading into the final quarter.
Chicago continued to put the pressure on Miami in the fourth period and only let its advantage dip into the single digits after James drilled a three-pointer early in the quarter.
The Heat trimmed their deficit from 17 to 12 points with less than seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. After that, MVP Rose made a pair of free throws and buried a long jumper.
Rose was not done yet. After Kyle Korver made a three-point play, Rose’ one-handed bank shot gave the Bulls a 97-80 lead with less than five minutes to play in the final period.
Miami held an eight-point edge in the opening period. Bosh made a layup to make it 19-11 that was the Miami’s biggest advantage in the half. The Heat held a 23-20 lead heading into the second period.
Gibson threw down a two-handed dunk and hit a three-pointer to equalise the play at 25-25 early in the second frame.
Later, Deng halted a 7-0 Miami flurry with a three-point play in the corner, and the contest was evened 48-48 at the break.
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