Workin' overtime again: Bulls take 3-OT thriller from Celtics

The fans, players and coaches really have only one question:

What could possibly happen next in this now-epic first-round NBA playoff series?

The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics seemingly exhausted all remaining options Thursday, playing three overtimes until the Bulls beat the defending NBA champions 128-127 before an emotionally exhausted sellout crowd.

GAME REPORT: Bulls 128, Celtics 127 (3 OT)
As is only fitting, this Eastern Conference series is going the distance, with Game 7 Saturday in Boston. The survivor meets the Orlando Magic in Round 2.

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Thursday's 3-hour, 56-minute classic was the fourth overtime game in the series, a record, and pushed the overtime periods to seven. In five of the six games, excluding Boston's wire-to-wire blowout in Game 3, there have been a total of 106 lead changes and 65 ties.

"Even though it's only the first round, I feel like this is the best series of basketball that anybody's ever seen," said Bulls guard Ben Gordon, who was hampered by his strained hamstring and held to 12 points.

"So far, it's probably one of the best series of basketball that I've ever been a part of," said 13-year veteran Ray Allen, whose 51 points were three shy of John Havlicek's Boston playoff record set in 1973.

The game had 21 lead changes, including two dramatic fourth-quarter comebacks. The Bulls were up by 12 with about 10 minutes left, but the Celtics went on an 18-0 run and held a 99-91 lead with 3½ minutes to go.

Bulls center Brad Miller, who missed two free throws that could have sent Game 5 into double overtime, sank a three-pointer with 1:06 left, then tied the score on a driving layup that looked like an instant replay of the controversial play on which he was fouled Tuesday.

To complete the eerie rewind, he hit two free throws with 16.9 seconds left in the second overtime.

"They were going in tonight," said Miller, the seven stitches in his mouth from Rajon Rondo's hard foul Tuesday still apparent. "I put a lot on me. I've been in my own little bubble since Game 5. I was just really focused."

The free throws gave the Bulls a three-point lead, but Allen nailed a three-pointer with 7.6 seconds left to send the game into the final overtime. "I've seen enough of Ray Allen's threes with under five seconds left to last a lifetime," Miller said.

In the final overtime, Bulls center Joakim Noah stole the ball from Boston's Paul Pierce and drove the length of the court for a dunk and ensuing free throw with 35.5 seconds left. Then Derrick Rose blocked Rondo's shot in the final seconds. link...

Boston coach Doc Rivers was most upset that his team let the eight-point lead late in regulation get away. "We stopped playing," he said.

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said the pressure is now all on Boston: "It's in their building; they're defending champs." link