Bulls beat Celtics in 3 OTs, force Game 7

By ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports Writer May 1, 12:44 am EDT

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CHICAGO (AP)—One more overtime thriller has the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics headed for a Game 7. Seems only fitting for this series.

Derrick Rose scored 28 points and blocked Rajon Rondo’s potential game-winner, John Salmons scored 35, and the Bulls beat the defending champions 128-127 in triple overtime Thursday night to even the first-round series.

Ray Allen scored a career playoff-high 51 points for the Celtics, but it’s back to Boston for Game 7 on Saturday night after another instant classic in a series that had already seen its share of drama.

Three of the first five games went to overtime, including a Game 4 that went two extra periods. Another came down to the wire in regulation, but this easily trumped them all.

Rondo penetrated and pulled up on the left block with 8 seconds left and turned, only to be rejected by Rose. The rookie of the year then missed two free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining, before Rondo launched a harmless heave from beyond midcourt.

That ended the game. The series, however, continues.

“This series is a lot of fun for the fans, the people of Chicago, the people of Boston,” said Joakim Noah of the Bulls, who made the go-ahead three-point play after a steal. “It’s a lot of fun for us, too, playing in environments like this on the big stage. It’s special to be part of this, and I know that it’s a series people will be talking about for a long time.”

Rose added: “It’s crazy, but you got to love it.”

Things might be different with a healthy Kevin Garnett, but without him, the Celtics are locked in a classic.

“It’s unbelievable,” Boston’s Kendrick Perkins said. “Shot after shot, tough make after tough make. It’s a tough series. They’re a young team playing with a lot of confidence.”

Tied at 123 in the third overtime, Noah stole a pass by Paul Pierce and broke upcourt for a dunk, got fouled by Pierce and hit the free throw with 35.5 seconds remaining. Eddie House quickly answered with a corner jumper, his feet on the 3-point arc, to pull the Celtics within 126-125, but Brad Miller hit two free throws to get the lead back up to three with 28 seconds left.

The Celtics weren’t finished, though.

Rondo put back his own miss to make it a one-point game, and then he got a break when Kirk Hinrich missed a layup with Rondo’s hand in the cylinder—which would have been goaltending.

Allen was spectacular for Boston, finishing three points shy of John Havlicek’s club playoff record and tying the NBA playoff mark with nine 3-pointers.

“It’s very bittersweet,” Allen said. “There’s nothing to really talk about anymore. We lost and we had the agony that it wasn’t enough.”

Glen Davis added 23 points and Pierce had 22, but it was a difficult night for Rondo.

The Celtics’ best player in the first five games, he had 19 assists and nine rebounds but scored just eight points and threw an elbow at Hinrich during a first-quarter skirmish. He heard boos and derisive chants for his foul at the end of Game 5 that left a woozy Miller with a bloody mouth before missing two tying free throws.

This time, Salmons and Rose had plenty of help from Miller, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

The Celtics were leading 113-111 in the second OT after Davis scored with 3:49 left, but they went cold and the Bulls grabbed the lead.

Salmons responded with a 3-pointer to put Chicago ahead and made it a three-point game with a driving layup with two minutes left.

It stayed that way until Allen, his toes touching the arc, buried a jumper from the right corner that pulled Boston within 116-115 with 20 seconds remaining. Miller hit two free throws, to make it a three-point game, but Allen wasn’t finished.

He dribbled to his left and buried a 3-pointer over Hinrich to tie it with 7.6 seconds left.

“I really don’t know what to say about this series,” Pierce said. “This has been a phenomenal series.”

Notes

Havlicek scored 54 against Atlanta on April 1, 1973. … Rose was a unanimous pick for the all-rookie team along with Memphis’ O.J. Mayo in a vote of the league’s coaches.

Updated May 1, 12:44 am EDT
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249 Comments

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  1. <i>roeimer</i>
    249. Posted by roeimer Tue May 5 8:15am EDT

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    urp!! eccushmi
  2. RavensD
    248. Posted by RavensD Sat May 2 11:11pm EDT

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    So sorry-
  3. concordbowlingrocks
    247. Posted by concordbowlingrocks Sat May 2 12:19am EDT

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    Hopefully Bulls win
  4. Lucas
    246. Posted by Lucas Fri May 1 7:15pm EDT

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    The Bulls definitly deserved this win. Rondo should have been ejected after his little 'tussle' with Hinrich. GO BULLS!
  5. bradley a
    245. Posted by bradley a Fri May 1 6:22pm EDT

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    best first round series ever?? definately in my book.

    bulls & celtics poor their hearts out and unfortunately the refs continue to @#$% their pants every chance they get.

    it sure looks like the NBA is trying to pave the way for a Celtics Lakers Final but the bulls wont die easy.

    How the hell hid that thug Rondo not get suspended or at least ejected TWICE.???

    how does Allen play 55+ minutes and 3 overtimes without a SINGLE personal foul ??

    Im praying Bulls take it to them in game seven. go bulls
  6. jessica
    244. Posted by jessica Fri May 1 6:07pm EDT

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    one word: amazing...
    who ever didnt watch this game missed out on the best game this playoff series. I really hope chicago wins game 7. GO BULLS!
  7. Zachary R
    243. Posted by Zachary R Fri May 1 4:40pm EDT

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    Rondo needs to get kicked out because he is trying to hurt people and the bulls would have won game 5 if rondo wouldn't had knocked out Miller's teeth. the refs didn;t even call it a flagarant. david stern i hope you read this: this is why the nfl is better because when rondo knocked out miller's teeth he should have been rejected. the nfl would have had that call down in a second
  8. Patrick C
    242. Posted by Patrick C Fri May 1 4:02pm EDT

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    The game last night is proof postive that the nba has favorite teams and or players, if it were a David Lee or a Walter Hermann commiting the foul that Rianna Rhondo commited last night they would have been tossed in a nano second . It is disgusting what the NBA has come down to now, it is a bunch of street thugs hamming it up for the camera's all we are missing are the gang signs being flashed and guns pulled. Watch any player after he makes his big play and he has a tough guy snarl, or he is pounding his chest, or like Stephenie Marbury with the Knicks or Ellen Iverson with the pistons pouting cause we "AINT GETTIN RESPECTED". Or watch the start of any cleveland game the poster team for the NBA and you get the pleasure of Bron Bron throwing powder into the air and when they pan to the crowd you see the inbred back hill folks from hio trying to snort it up. Then they pan to the intro's and you see them pretending to take pictures of each other, hell if you want a recent photo just go to the local jail and ask to see the updated files on most teams from hio. The NBA is pandering to what continues to be the basterdization of American morals just ask the baby mama of all the kids born to these so called stars, the NBA players fit in perfectly with the bankers and politicans in that the all feel they can screw America and never be held responsible for what they do because they deserve the star treatment. This is why I watch civilized sports where players act like men
  9. Noel
    241. Posted by Noel Fri May 1 3:29pm EDT

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    go chicago bulls you can do it, all you have to do is believe beat BOSTON.....
  10. Ray
    240. Posted by Ray Fri May 1 3:23pm EDT

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    I will preface my remarks by saying the Celtics were a worthy champion. They have shown in this series, win or lose, that they have become thugs. Garnett needs to retreat to the press box with his thug behavior on the sidelines and Rondo needs a lesson from classier players who have paved the way for him. Champions to chumps. They may win this one (and be lucky to do it) but they have been dethroned and will have to back up the truck with these old men.
  11. Alvis S
    239. Posted by Alvis S Fri May 1 3:19pm EDT

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    The reps blew it on hinrich layup. Rondo touch the rim while the ball still in the cylinder. That should have been a goaltending.
  12. <i>pacuri1</i>
    238. Posted by pacuri1 Fri May 1 3:16pm EDT

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    Joakim Noah keep that positive attitude and your hustle. You make a big difference on this team because of your work ethic. Great hustle down the floor for the power explosion dunk! Your good for the team and for Chicago.
    Finish'em!!!
  13. Hoiwon
    237. Posted by Hoiwon Fri May 1 3:10pm EDT

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    I'm a forever Lakers fan but this Bulls-Celtics games have been the most thrilling and entertaining series so far, unlike the tepid Lakers games! Man, those young Chicago players are really playing their hearts out and the defending champs are doing their best without Garnett. So good to see Rondo step up (although his foul on Miller definitely was flagrant and he should have been suspended just like Dwight Howard did, or let D. Howard play!) So many expected Celtics to eliminate Bulls a long time ago with or without Garnett but that hasn't happened so far. These teams make this year's NBA playoffs so much more exciting and truly worth following, no matter who your team is. I hope Chicago beats Celtics in the 7th game. Yeah, it would be nice to have a Lakers-Celtics rematch so my team can redeem themselves from last year's total humiliation, but I feel Bulls deserve to move onto the next round more than the Celtics because their young players just seem "hungrier" than the Celtics players except Rondo. May the best team win in the end and bravo to both teams for giving NBA fans something to cheer about!
  14. Jose
    236. Posted by Jose Fri May 1 2:30pm EDT

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    im happy for the bulls, they have a great future and a better future than the celtics..obviously it would be a different story if the celtics had K.G. and Leon Powe, but they don't..it doesn't matter anyways, Lakers vs. Cleveland in the Finals, Lakers in 5
  15. truth
    235. Posted by truth Fri May 1 2:21pm EDT

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    What a travisty,hey doc! you ain't playing l.a. keep the big dummy(perkins)home! you realy dont have an opponent worthy of tripple coverage.for god's sake! it's chicago.so stop the grandstanding use your bench players for the rough-house play,and that don't include scalabrini! rhonda must play more man to man like a man.game 7 should have doc's job on the line.we might see a better concept?.
  16. <i>olivenugent</i>
    234. Posted by olivenugent Fri May 1 2:19pm EDT

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    The celtic and Bulls game is the most interresting game right now even if the bulls do not win they are a great baby team keep up the good works guys.
  17. Yufondycc
    233. Posted by Yufondycc Fri May 1 2:14pm EDT

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    This is a great game to watch. No matter who win's the game. They both are good team with no doubt on that. They have the most wonderful teammates. Cheer up and be ready for next year.
  18. Jeff D
    232. Posted by Jeff D Fri May 1 2:13pm EDT

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    The refs like Boston, they have their "Pet Teams". Rondo should have been ejected a few times and suspended a few times also. He is like a street cat with 9 lives.

    Lakers vs Cavs in the final, you pick the winner
  19. <i>revwwwjr</i>
    231. Posted by revwwwjr Fri May 1 2:09pm EDT

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    Is everyone that comments a Bulls fan? It seems that most of you have been losing sleep over Rondo...there has always been that kind of player in the league...get over it
  20. <i>cavslandrocks</i>
    230. Posted by cavslandrocks Fri May 1 2:06pm EDT

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    GSC: wait til you see how one-sided it gets IN Boston...Dave & Stu are trying to prop up this tired old team to get them to the conference finals...lotta good that'll do...Cavs will demolish them............................Lucero P:...hey IF your team can play 5 on 8 against Lakers/refs and win, that's cool...just don't get your hopes up...NBA won't let two "small market " teams go to the finals
  21. Joshua
    229. Posted by Joshua Fri May 1 1:40pm EDT

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    Am trully amazed!!!!
  22. GSC
    228. Posted by GSC Fri May 1 1:38pm EDT

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    How does Ray Allen not get a foul called in regulation and 3 OT's? Rondo should've been ejected. Ridiculous officiating!!! If those calls were made, Bulls win easily. Come on...give the Bulls a break!!!
  23. Dominick
    227. Posted by Dominick Fri May 1 1:37pm EDT

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    Hey curt d' I AGree everyhing you wrote about the loser. That street fighter pieace of crap!!!! And still has not been tossed out of the game!!!!!! C- mon? Born in Chicago and raised 44 yrs. Big die hard bulls fan and I really hope bulls kick the @#$% outta Boston game 7!!!!! LOL
  24. InsideSports
    226. Posted by InsideSports Fri May 1 1:33pm EDT

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    Kurt - I didn't see the game. What did Rhonda do that you think was bad?
  25. Angelo Lucero P
    225. Posted by Angelo Lucero P Fri May 1 1:31pm EDT

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    go bulls, the celtics are overrated, even if they had sorry garnett. At the end it doesn't matter the nuggets are going to win it all. Yes Cavs fans you are going to have to wait another year to claim the championship. Billups is killer!!! J.R. Smith is the best 3-Point shooter in the game today....
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Top Performers

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 Boston
R. Allen Ray Allen
18-32,  51 Pts
5 Rebs, 3 Assists
 Chicago
J. Salmons John Salmons
13-22,  35 Pts
6 Rebs, 4 Assists

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