The Celtics-Bulls First Round Series Has Been Nuts

Now at 3-2 in Boston’s favor in a best-of-7 series, the Boston-Chicago matchup has easily been the most exciting so far in this year’s NBA playoffs and perhaps among the closest ever in playoffs history.  While the Celtics were seeded 2 and the Bulls 7, the playing field became a lot more level after Kevin Garnett found that he did not have enough functioning knees to play basketball.  Four out of the five games have been won by 2- or 3-point margins, with both teams posting triple digit scores in all four of those games.  Three have gone into overtime, and one into double overtime.  A few highlights from each game:  

Game 1: Bulls 105, Celtics 103 (OT)

Derrick Rose puts up 36 for the Bulls, matching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for points scored in a rookie playoff game.  Celtics captain Paul Pierce misses a free throw to send the game into overtime.

Game 2: Celtics 118, Bulls 115

Ben Gordon scores 42 under pressure from fellow UCONN alum Ray Allen.  Allen hits a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left to deliver Boston the game.

Game 3: Celtics 107, Bulls 86

Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce score a combined 44 points.  Boston is already up 22 at the half and has gained important momentum in the series…

Game 4: Bulls 121, Celtics 118 (2OT)

…but then a tremendous effort puts the Bulls back on track in double overtime.  Every Bulls player who appears in the game posts double digits.  Allen again hits a 3-pointer to save the game, though Celtics lose in OT.  A faint but growing chant of “quack…quack…quack” is heard from the Chicago locker room.

Game 5: Celtics 106, Bulls 104 (OT)

The first postseason series in NBA history to require three overtime games.  Paul Pierce hits four clutch jump shots in the closing seconds of regulation and overtime.  The (naval, not basketball) captain who escaped Somali pirates is presented with a personalized Celtics jersey.

Next game is tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7:00 EST on TNT.

Source: ESPN.