NBA Roundup: Miami edges Chicago in playoff atmosphere
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The odds had to overwhelmingly be in Chicago's favor. Down by a point with 22.7 seconds left, with Derrick Rose heading to the line to shoot a pair of free throws.
The reigning NBA MVP. He was a perfect 29 for 29 from the foul line in the fourth quarter this season.
As if this moment needed extra significance, it was coming against the Miami Heat, the team that downed Rose and the Bulls in last season's Eastern Conference finals by taking the series' last four games.
Rose missed both.
And missed a potentially game-tying jumper with 3.7 seconds left to boot, as somehow the Heat held on for a wild 97-93 win on Sunday.
LeBron James -- the player who Rose supplanted as the league MVP -- scored 35 points for Miami, which never trailed yet never could relax until Chris Bosh sealed it by making two free throws with 0.1 seconds left.
"This is so surreal right now knowing that I had a chance to win the game," said Rose, emotional at his locker afterward. "And this time it didn't work out."
Bosh scored 24 points and added 12 rebounds for the Heat (15-5), who got 15 points from Dwyane Wade and pulled within one game of the Bulls (17-5) in the East.
"Like the playoffs in January," Wade said.
As for that notion that this was "just another game" ... nope. Not even close.
"The way I see it, every time we play the Bulls it's going to be like that," Bosh said. "It's always going to be an atmosphere where nobody wants to lose and that's how the playoffs are."
On the play where he missed the free throws, Rose then lost the ball on a drive, but drew contact from Miami's Udonis Haslem and went to the line.
Rose's first hit the front of the rim and bounced away, and his second rimmed out. James grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Noah -- only to miss both free throws himself.
"I couldn't believe he missed both," Wade said of Rose. "I couldn't believe LeBron missed both, either. Averaged itself out, I guess."
Chicago wound up getting one last chance with 9.9 seconds left, calling time out. Naturally, it went to Rose, who weaved his way into the lane -- but came up short.
"The ball was on our side this time," said James, who defended Rose in the fourth quarter -- and in the postgame, saying last season's MVP deserved credit for the comeback instead of simply having all the blame for misfiring down the stretch.
The Bulls played without forward Luol Deng and guard C.J. Watson, both sidelined with wrist injuries.
Watson may be back in Chicago's lineup as early as Monday, and Deng -- who has a torn ligament in his left, non-shooting, wrist -- is "very close" to a return, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
• Lakers 106, Timberwolves 101: Kobe Bryant had 35 points and 14 rebounds and Pau Gasol scored 28 to give Los Angeles a much-needed road victory against Minnesota. Kevin Love had 33 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota.
• Mavericks 101, Spurs 100: Jason Terry scored a season-high 34 points, including four in the last 42 seconds of overtime, as host Dallas rebounded after blowing a big lead against San Antonio.
• Cavaliers 88, Celtics 87: Kyrie Irving scored 23 points, sinking a layup with 2.6 seconds left as Cleveland scored the final 12 points of the game for the win in Boston. Anderson Varejao scored 18 points.
• Hawks 94, Hornets 72: Jeff Teague tied a career high with 24 points despite playing on a sore left ankle as visiting Atlanta beat New Orleans.
• Raptors 94, Nets 73: DeMar DeRozan scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half, leading Toronto to the victory in New Jersey.
• Pacers 106, Magic 85: Danny Granger scored 24 points, and David West and George Hill each had 16 as visiting Indiana ran past Orlando.
• Clippers 109, Nuggets 105: Chauncy Billips scored 32 points and Chris Paul 25 to lead visiting Los Angeles past Denver. Blake Griffin added 17 points and 13 rebounds in the win.
First Published January 30, 2012 12:00 am
