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.
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