It was a typical Knicks’ playoff victory, with drama, sensational defense, and physical play that led to ejections and heated emotions. The Chicago Bulls mounted a furious comeback, but New York made a game-winning stand in the final minute. John Starks made a spectacular driving, left-handed dunk that energized the crowd and his teammates. Charles Oakley dominated both backboards and made clutch free throws. And the Knicks remained masters of Madison Square Garden, where they have won 27 consecutive games. Taking another step toward dethroning the two-time NBA champions, the Knicks outwilled the Bulls, 96-91, in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference championship series last night. The victory gave New York a two-games-to-none lead in the four-of-seven-game series. And it gave the Bulls plenty to think about before the series shifts to Chicago for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon. Once again, the Knicks’ frontline dominated, outrebounding the Bulls, 45-34. Once again, Michael Jordan (36 points, 12-for-32 shooting) faded late in the game, shooting just 5 for 16 in the second half after a 25-point first half. And once again, New York’s multi-dimensional defense controlled the Bulls’ two-dimensional offense of Jordan and Scottie Pippen (17 points). “We had a 14-point lead, they came back, but we weathered the storm,” said Knicks Coach Pat Riley. “We’re up 2-0 going to chicago, and that’s what we wanted. I think our team’s confident. We held service, now the pressure does revert to …
His partners in the ratings game desperately wanted to salvage some pride on their home floor, but Michael Jordan was even more determined to have at least three days off. He was willing to work every angle, possible and impossible, to secure them. The baseline. The wing. Straight on from 15 feet. Off one foot or off the glass, he kept hitting net and he kept fading away — farther and farther — until Anfernee Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and their once-potent basketball team resembled minuscule blips from high atop the ridge. The chicago Bulls were much closer to the pinnacle than the Orlando Magic was today because Jordan reached the climax of a yearlong vindication process by backpacking his team to a 106-101 victory in Game 4 and a sweep of the Eastern Conference finals. “Judging from the look in Michael’s eyes, we could have rode him all day today,” forward Scottie Pippen said. “I know I rode him. We all did. What’s new?” With a menacing glare attached to nearly every basket he made, Jordan erupted for 45 points, wagged his tongue, kicked up his left foot ever so slightly and walked out of Orlando Arena with a Cuban cigar tucked snugly in his blazer pocket. He made 16 of 23 shots and 10 of 14 free throws and performed the same riveting theater on the floor that carried Chicago to its last finals, in 1993, the last time the Bulls were this close to a championship. They overcame a 56-47 halftime deficit in the final seconds of the third quarter and then let Jordan do …
www.jalenrose.com twitter.com This game was simply amazing. The Bulls pulled out a hard-fought victory in triple overtime over the Celtics in a series that many are calling one of the best of all time. Jalen Rose analyzes on ESPN Sportscenter in HD.
A proud team that had been criticized and scrutinized came crashing down on the Knicks today. And the Knicks cracked under the strain. Making a strong statement that they are far from finished, the Chicago Bulls pounded the Knicks, 103-83, this afternoon at chicago Stadium in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference championship series. The victory cut the Knicks’ edge to 2-1 in the four-of-seven-game series, with Game 4 to be played here Monday afternoon. The Bulls returned to their home court, and returned to the form that has won them back-to-back NBA titles. They embarrassed and frustrated the Knicks, who eventually lost their poise. John Starks was ejected with 9 minutes to play, receiving two technical fouls for charging after Michael Jordan. Although Starks accused Jordan of throwing an elbow and sticking a finger in his face, Starks’s reaction was another indication of his temper getting the best of him. The Bulls rattled the Knicks early with their full-court press, eventually forcing New York into 20 turnovers. This was exactly the kind of performance the Knicks wanted to avoid. They were tentative offensively. They lost their aggressiveness, outrebounding Chicago just 35-30 after dominating that department in the previous two games. Other than Patrick Ewing (21 points), no Knick stepped up offensively. And New York’s defense was porous, giving up 62 points in the first half. After a collapse like this, the Knicks had a lot to think about. The Bulls were simply too …
A limping Reggie Miller scored 13 of his 28 points in the final 4 1/2 minutes and the Indiana Pacers survived a furious late rally by the Chicago Bulls and climbed back into the Eastern Conference finals with a 107-105 victory in Game Three. “I stepped on Mike’s foot in the middle of the third quarter,” Miller said. Clearly hobbled, Miller nevertheless made three three-pointers, a 20-footer that beat the shot clock and the clinching free throws in the final 4:11. He was the only Pacer to score from the field in the last 6 1/2 minutes. “It loosened up as the game went on,” Miller said. “I knew I couldn’t drive, so I basically just played off their mistakes.” Miller made 9-of-15 shots, including 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Indiana’s bench held a 43-25 scoring advantage, including 20-6 over the final 13-plus minutes. “He said he could go,” Pacers coach Larry Bird said. “He put everything on the line and stepped up and hit the big shots.” Michael Jordan scored 30 points and Scottie Pippen added 23 for the Bulls, who suffered their first road loss of the postseason and had a five-game winning streak snapped. chicago trimmed an eight-point deficit to 103-102 in just over a minute, but Rose and Davis each made a pair of clutch free throws before Miller sealed it. “He was hurt and I don’t know why we didn’t go at him,” Bulls guard Ron Harper said. “We had a chance in this game and we know we let a golden opportunity slip away.”