The Chicago Bulls pulled off the upset in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series against the Boston Celtics. There where some Chicago like traits that came out of the Bulls at the end of the game, but the Celtics where never able to tie or take the lead and the Bulls hit their free throws down the stretch to take Game 1 by four points 106-102.
There where a couple of ties early in the 1st quarter the last one being at 6 all with 9:27 left in the quarter. The Celtics then scored the next sox points to take a 12-6 lead. The Celtics had the lead for the rest of the 1st quarter, but that six point lead was the biggest one they had. Bobby Portis hit a jumper for the Bulls to cut Boston’s lead to two points at 25-23, but the Celtics scored the final basket of the quarter (a 3-pointer) to take a 28-23 lead after one quarter.
The Bulls came out and scored the first ten points of the 2nd quarter to take a 33-28 lead. The Celtics came back and tied the game at 33 all. There where three more ties between the team before Dwayne Wade hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulls some space at 44-41. Chicago pushed their lead to five points, but the Celtics came back and when Al Horford hit a 3-pointer as the 2nd quarter expired it cut the Bulls lead to two points 48-46 headed into halftime.
The Celtics got off to the quick 3rd quarter start scoring five of the quarters first seven points and taking a 51-50 lead with 10:40 left in the quarter. There where three ties and three lead changes between the teams before Boston was able to establish a five point lead 69-64 with 2:54 left in the quarter. The Bulls scored the next five points to tie the game at 69 all. The teams traded baskets with Jimmy Butler hitting a 3-pointer for the Bulls with :04 seconds left in the quarter to make it a 74 all game after three quarters of play.
The Bulls took a quick three point lead, but Boston came right back to tie the game at 78 all. The Bulls went right back to the lead and built a five point lead on two occasions only to have the Celtics come right back and tie the game at 87 all with 5:33 left to play. The teams traded the lead before the Bulls where able to push the lead to nine points. The Bulls had a 103-94 lead with just :47 seconds left to play and it looked like they’d easily pick up a Game 1 win, but not so fast. Boston went on an 8 to 1 run and had cut the Bulls lead to just two points with :07 seconds left in the game. Jimmy Butler was able to knock down two free throws with :03 seconds left to give the Bulls a 106-102 Game 1 win.
Jimmy Butler led the Bulls in scoring with 30 points. Robin Lopez added 14 points and grabbed a game high 11 rebounds. Dwayne Wade scored 12 points and Rajon Rondo added 11 points. Both Wade and Rondo handed out 6 assists to lead the team. Bobby Portis came off the Bulls bench to score 19 points.
Only three Celtics scored in double figures led by Isaiah Thomas who had a game high 33 points. Al Horford had 19 points and handed out a game high 8 assists while Avery Bradley added 14 points. Jae Crowder did grab a team high 9 rebounds.
The win gives the Bulls a 1-0 lead in the series. Monday is an off day with Game 2 being scheduled for Tuesday night in Boston. It’s a 7:00 p.m. c.s.t start time and it will be televised on TNT.
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