Ben Gordon scored 24 points and Luol Deng added 22 and 12 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls completed a four-game sweep of the defending champion Miami Heat on Sunday, winning 92-79.
Miami started strong, taking a 48-44 lead into halftime. However, the Bulls, who out-scored the Heat 59-44 in the second half of game three, out-scored Miami 48-31 in the second half of game four. The Heat once again struggled at the line, shooting 13-of-27 (48.1%). Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning shot a combined 2-of-14 at the charity stripe, O'Neal going 0-of-7. Miami shot 16-of-35 (45.7%) in game three.
Despite shooting only 38.1% from the floor and being out-rebounded 49-42, Chicago forced the Heat into 17 turnovers and capitalized on the good majority of them. The Bulls took great care of the basketball, turning it over only five times. Chicago also got clutch free throw shooting from Ben Wallace, who shot 7-of-8 from the line and hit several big ones in the fourth quarter when he was fouled intentionally. Wallace finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bulls also poor shooting nights from Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni, who went only 2-of-12 and 4-of-14 from the floor, respectively. Gordon remedied that, going 10-of-18.
Chicago will face the Detroit Pistons in the next round of the playoffs. The Bulls won the season series 3-1.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Warriors stun Mavericks, take 2-1 lead
The Golden State Warriors made the most of their first home playoff game in 13 years, embarrassing the number one-seeded Dallas Mavericks 109-91 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
The largest crowd in Warriors' history (20,629) watched their team dismantle the heavily favored Mavericks for 48 minutes on Friday night. Dallas looked completely helpless for the entire game, shooting only 38.8% from the floor. Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points, but eight of those came in the first four minutes.
Golden State, who lost their composure in game two of the series, had five players score in double-figures, with Jason Richardson leading the charge with 30 off 12-of-19 shooting. He also pulled down eight rebounds. Baron Davis, who was ejected from game two, finished with 24, and Andris Biedrins provided a spark in his first start of the series, tallying 10 points and 10 boards.
When things began to completely unravel in the third quarter, the Mavericks began to look like Davis and the Warriors did in game two, where both he and Stephen Jackson were ejected from the game. To the crowd's delight, Josh Howard, Devin Harris, and Jerry Stackhouse each drew technical fouls for Dallas in the period.
Golden State used their athleticism and quickness to disorient the team that reached the NBA Finals last year won 67 games during the regular season. The Warriors led by double-digits the entire second half. The Mavericks, on the other hand, looked bewildered during the final 24 minutes and simply could not get anything going.
A number eight seed has only beaten a number one twice in NBA history, but it has never happened since the NBA extended the first round from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven series in the 2002-03 season. The Denver Nuggets defeated the Seattle Supersonics in five games in 1994-95, and the New York Knicks shocked the Miami Heat in five back in the 1998-99 season. The Knicks would actually advance all the way to the Finals.
Game three will be held in Golden State on Sunday.
The largest crowd in Warriors' history (20,629) watched their team dismantle the heavily favored Mavericks for 48 minutes on Friday night. Dallas looked completely helpless for the entire game, shooting only 38.8% from the floor. Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points, but eight of those came in the first four minutes.
Golden State, who lost their composure in game two of the series, had five players score in double-figures, with Jason Richardson leading the charge with 30 off 12-of-19 shooting. He also pulled down eight rebounds. Baron Davis, who was ejected from game two, finished with 24, and Andris Biedrins provided a spark in his first start of the series, tallying 10 points and 10 boards.
When things began to completely unravel in the third quarter, the Mavericks began to look like Davis and the Warriors did in game two, where both he and Stephen Jackson were ejected from the game. To the crowd's delight, Josh Howard, Devin Harris, and Jerry Stackhouse each drew technical fouls for Dallas in the period.
Golden State used their athleticism and quickness to disorient the team that reached the NBA Finals last year won 67 games during the regular season. The Warriors led by double-digits the entire second half. The Mavericks, on the other hand, looked bewildered during the final 24 minutes and simply could not get anything going.
A number eight seed has only beaten a number one twice in NBA history, but it has never happened since the NBA extended the first round from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven series in the 2002-03 season. The Denver Nuggets defeated the Seattle Supersonics in five games in 1994-95, and the New York Knicks shocked the Miami Heat in five back in the 1998-99 season. The Knicks would actually advance all the way to the Finals.
Game three will be held in Golden State on Sunday.
Kidd posts triple-double, Nets take 2-1 lead
Jason Kidd missed his last practice with a sore knee. That knee seemed fine tonight, as the 34-year old Kidd recorded a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 19 assists, and 16 rebounds to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 102-89 victory and a 2-1 series lead over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
New Jersey controlled this game from the get-go, taking an early 31-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. They led 58-39 at the half. Toronto got the lead down to single digits in the third quarter, but the Nets rebounded, as Vince Carter scored 37 points off 15-of-23 shooting. Richard Jefferson tallied 18.
T.J. Ford was the only consistent player offensively for the Raptors, scoring 27 points off 11-of-22 shooting. He also dished out eight assists. Chris Bosh, who rebounded from a mediocre game one with 25 points and 13 rebounds in game two, was sub-par, finishing with 11 points off 3-of-10 shooting.
The win by New Jersey gave them a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series. The two teams will next square off on Sunday.
New Jersey controlled this game from the get-go, taking an early 31-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. They led 58-39 at the half. Toronto got the lead down to single digits in the third quarter, but the Nets rebounded, as Vince Carter scored 37 points off 15-of-23 shooting. Richard Jefferson tallied 18.
T.J. Ford was the only consistent player offensively for the Raptors, scoring 27 points off 11-of-22 shooting. He also dished out eight assists. Chris Bosh, who rebounded from a mediocre game one with 25 points and 13 rebounds in game two, was sub-par, finishing with 11 points off 3-of-10 shooting.
The win by New Jersey gave them a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series. The two teams will next square off on Sunday.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Bulls put Heat against ropes, go up 3-0
The defending champions are in trouble. Big trouble. The Chicago Bulls out-scored the Miami Heat 32-20 in the fourth quarter and captured a 3-0 series lead with a 104-96 victory.
The Heat, who took a 52-45 lead going into halftime, led by as much as 12 at one point during the third quarter before the Bulls made their run. Miami certainly essentially lost the game at the free throw line where they shot only 16-of-35 (45.7%) as a team. Shaquille O'Neal went 3-of-12 from the charity stripe while Dwyane Wade shot only 4-of-10.
Chicago, on the other hand, was very efficient from the line. They shot 29-of-37 (78.4%) as a team, led by Ben Gordon who went 11-of-14. Gordon paced the Bulls with 27 points, one of three Bulls' that scored over 20. Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich were the others, tallying 24 and 22, respectively. Deng also pulled down 11 rebounds.
Both Wade and O'Neal did everything they could offensively to keep the Heat in the game, but their woes at the foul line were very costly. Wade scored 28 off 12-of-27 shooting while O'Neal finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, six offensive.
Chicago, who also out-rebounded Miami 44-33, will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon in Miami. No team has ever blown a 3-0 lead in the NBA Playoffs.
The Heat, who took a 52-45 lead going into halftime, led by as much as 12 at one point during the third quarter before the Bulls made their run. Miami certainly essentially lost the game at the free throw line where they shot only 16-of-35 (45.7%) as a team. Shaquille O'Neal went 3-of-12 from the charity stripe while Dwyane Wade shot only 4-of-10.
Chicago, on the other hand, was very efficient from the line. They shot 29-of-37 (78.4%) as a team, led by Ben Gordon who went 11-of-14. Gordon paced the Bulls with 27 points, one of three Bulls' that scored over 20. Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich were the others, tallying 24 and 22, respectively. Deng also pulled down 11 rebounds.
Both Wade and O'Neal did everything they could offensively to keep the Heat in the game, but their woes at the foul line were very costly. Wade scored 28 off 12-of-27 shooting while O'Neal finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, six offensive.
Chicago, who also out-rebounded Miami 44-33, will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon in Miami. No team has ever blown a 3-0 lead in the NBA Playoffs.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Barbosa propels Suns to 1-0 lead
Leandro Barbosa poured in 26 points off the bench and Amare Stoudemire scored 23 and pulled down 12 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in game one of their first-round playoff matchup, 95-87.
The Suns came out of the gates a bit sluggish in this one, with the Lakers building their lead to as much as 12 in the first half. Kobe Bryant racked up 28 first-half points and rattled in a three-pointer with one second remaining in the half, and Los Angeles went into halftime with a 48-39 advantage.
Both squads came out firing on all cylinders to start the third quarter. That's when Barbosa took over. He continuously drove the lane and put in lay-up after lay-up as Jordan Farmar and Smush Parker helplessly tried to guard the "Brazilian Blur." Barbosa then buried a three at the buzzer to end the third quarter, bringing Phoenix to within three, 77-74. He tallied 19 points in the second half.
Bryant, who shot 11-for-17 in the first half, went only 4-of-16 in the final 24 minutes, including a spell where he missed nine in a row and 10 of 11 overall. He shot only 1-of-10 in the fourth quarter, where the Lakers scored only 10 points as a team. Bryant finished with 39.
The Suns out-scored the Lakers 56-39 in the second half and got double-doubles from three different players: Stoudemire, Steve Nash, and Shawn Marion. Nash had 20 points and 10 assists and Marion racked up 16 points and 16 boards.
Phoenix beat Los Angeles in game one of their first-round series last year and would eventually win the series in seven games.
The Suns came out of the gates a bit sluggish in this one, with the Lakers building their lead to as much as 12 in the first half. Kobe Bryant racked up 28 first-half points and rattled in a three-pointer with one second remaining in the half, and Los Angeles went into halftime with a 48-39 advantage.
Both squads came out firing on all cylinders to start the third quarter. That's when Barbosa took over. He continuously drove the lane and put in lay-up after lay-up as Jordan Farmar and Smush Parker helplessly tried to guard the "Brazilian Blur." Barbosa then buried a three at the buzzer to end the third quarter, bringing Phoenix to within three, 77-74. He tallied 19 points in the second half.
Bryant, who shot 11-for-17 in the first half, went only 4-of-16 in the final 24 minutes, including a spell where he missed nine in a row and 10 of 11 overall. He shot only 1-of-10 in the fourth quarter, where the Lakers scored only 10 points as a team. Bryant finished with 39.
The Suns out-scored the Lakers 56-39 in the second half and got double-doubles from three different players: Stoudemire, Steve Nash, and Shawn Marion. Nash had 20 points and 10 assists and Marion racked up 16 points and 16 boards.
Phoenix beat Los Angeles in game one of their first-round series last year and would eventually win the series in seven games.
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