Heat rally down stretch, end Bulls’ season with 83-80 in Game 5
BY MARK POTASH mpotash@suntimes.com May 26, 2011 8:14PM
Bulls guard Derrick Rose looks upset as a foul is called on the Bulls in the second quarter in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals with the Chicago Bulls hosting the Miami Heat Thursday May 26, 2011 at the United Center. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times
Updated: May 26, 2011 10:36PM
LeBron James scored 28 points, Wade added 21 and the Miami Heat eliminated Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls 83-80 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday.
James and Dwyane Wade each scored eight during a game-ending 18-3 run as Miami wiped out a 12-point deficit to clinch this series. Now, the Heat are headed back to the NBA finals for the first time since 2006, and in a fitting twist, they’ll be facing the Mavericks.
THIRD QUARTER
Derrick Rose scored seven points as the Bulls built a 13-point lead and settled for a 62-57 lead over the Miami Heat after three quarters in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at the United Center.
Rose hit a three-pointer and scored on a drive and Keith Bogans hit a three-pointer as the Bulls took a 57-44 lead with 4:51 left in the quarter.
But the Heat rallied behind LeBron James, who duped an official into a foul on Rose and then got a few other breaks in a contentious quarter. Taj Gibson was called for a technical foul when he was called for a foul, apparently on a shot by Chris Bosh. The Heat scored six unanswered points to get within 58-53.
Rose scored on a drive, but James was fouled again and hit two free throws to make it 60-55. Rose hit two free throws, but Bosh beat the shot clock with a baseline jumper to make it 62-57.
Rose leads the Bulls with 19 points. Luol Deng has 14, but was held to two points in the third quarter.
James and Bosh each have 16 points for the Heat. Dwyane Wade has 11.
SECOND QUARTER
C.J. Watson, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer combined for 12 points in the second quarter as the Bulls bench helped build a 45-38 lead over the Miami Heat at halftime in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Thursday night at the United Center.
Derrick Rose, who scored 10 first-quarter points, went scoreless in the quarter, but Korver hit a three-pointer, Watson hit a long jumper and fed Brewer for a basket inside as the Bulls used a 9-0 run to open a 37-25 lead. Luol Deng made two free throws and hit a three-pointer to keep the Bulls in front at halftime. Deng leads the Bulls with 14 points.
LeBron James leads the Heat with 11 points. Dwyane Wade has nine on 1-of-4 shooting and Chris Bosh has eight points. Mike Miller scored seven points in the second quarter to keep the Heat close.
BENCH MOB: Kyle Korver hits a three-pointer, C.J. Watson hits a long two-pointer and feeds Ronnie Brewer for a fast-break layup that gives the Bulls a 33-25 lead with 7:04 left in the first half.
TOUGH BREAK: After Kurt Thomas, playing for injured Omer Asik, misses a 17-footer, Taj Gibson tip-stuffs the rebound, but is called for pushing off, which negates the basket.
DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD: Korver hits an 18-footer and Carlos Boozer hits a 16-footer from the free throw line as the Bulls run off nine unanswered points for a 37-25 lead with 6:03 left in the half.
HEAT RESPONDS: Chris Bosh dunks off a feed from Mike bibby, Dwyane Wade makes two free throws and Mike Miller hits a three-pointer as the Heat scores seven straight points to cut the Bulls’ lead to 37-32 with 4:00 left in the quarter.
FIRST QUARTER
Derrick Rose scored 10 points and Luol Deng added nine as the Bulls used a 15-3 run to take a 25-21 lead over the Miami Heat after the first quarter in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at the United Center.
Rose hit 4-of-8 shots and Deng 4-of-7, including a three-pointer, as the Bulls shot 11-of-23 for the quarter, including 8-of-12 after falling behind 12-6 in the first 5:45 of the game.
James scored nine points and Dwyane Wade scored seven for the Heat, who shot 7-of-18 for the quarter.
SAME OLD STORY: After taking a 4-0 lead, the Bulls miss eight of their next nine shots and Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combine for all of Miami’s points in a 12-2 run that gives the Heat a 12-6 lead with 6:15 left in the quarter.
BULLS RESPOND: Luol Deng steals a pass from James, takes it all the way for a fast-break dunk and draws a foul from James. Deng misses the free throw, leaving the Bulls down 15-14.
TO THE HOOP: Rose drives for a layup that gives the Bulls a 6-0 run and a 16-15 lead with 3:21 left in the quarter.
M-V-P: Rose hits two free throws and a pullup 20-footer as the Bulls open a 22-16 lead.
CAN’T PULL AWAY: James hits a 21-footer, Deng responds with a three-pointer for a 25-18 lead. But after Taj Gibson misses on a drive in the lane, James pulls up for a three-pointer with 2.7 seconds left in the quarter to make it 25-21.
CONTRIBUTING: AP
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