| |
|
NBA PLAYOFFS -- Bulls stun No.1 Celtics, steal Game 1
By Homer D. Sayson PhilBoxing.com Tue, 18 Apr 2017

CHICAGO -- Jimmy Butler had always been a workhorse, so it was no surprise that he carried the Chicago Bulls on his back on Sunday afternoon and led a gutsy 106-102 win over the Celtics in Game 1 of their series opener at the TD Garden in Boston.
Though barely making the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls looked like legitimate title contenders, playing with poise and experience that matters heavily in the postseason.
The Bulls didn't shoot well from the field 39-of-91 for 42.9 percent, but their defense was superb and held Boston to 37-of-85 for a mere 43 percent. Chicago was also a beast off the boards, out-rebounding the Celtics, 53-36.
"We were so locked in all week. We knew their stuff, jut like they knew ours. But we executed extremely well. We haven't done that all season, but this is the right time to do it," Butler told the Associated Press.
Butler finished with 30 points and 9 boards while Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo combined for 23 points and 12 assists. Bobby Portis was huge off the bench, contributing 19 including two clutch 3s late in the fourth quarter.
Isaiah Thomas, who lost his 22-year old sister to a car accident a day before Game 1, put up a gallant performance with 33 points. But he got little help as only Al Horforf (19) and Avery Bradley (14) scored in double-figures for the Celtics.
The Bulls try to take a stranglehold of this best-of-7 first-round series when Game 2 resumes Tuesday night (Wednesday AM in Manila) at the TD Garden. (HDS)
Photo: Jimmy Butler ran amok in the fourth quarter where he scored 15 points to the lead the Bulls 106-102 charge over the Celtics in Game 1 of their playoffs showdown.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Badenas TKO’s Saknosiwi in 10th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Las Vegas & California Amateurs Shine in a Powerful Fall Rumble Weekend Followed by a Heartfelt Turkey Drive for Local Families , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Santa Run Davao on December 14 at NCCC Mall Victoria Plaza By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Alec “The Rock” Del Rio Fights for WBC Asia Title Friday in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Eumir, Weljohn put pros on hold By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Toronto Topples Cleveland, 110-99 for 8th Straight Win; Holds on to 2nd in the East By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PPP Seniors & PWD Fun Run 2025 on Dec. 13 in Talomo By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES A FULL SELLOUT AND BROADCAST DETAILS AHEAD OF U.S. DEBUT EVENT THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, AT PECHANGA RESORT CASINO IN TEMECULA, CALIF. , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Tomorrow Night's CB Promotions Card at The Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton is Postponed , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PHL bids to host WB Congress By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Joel "Lethal" Lewis talks boxing evolution and upcoming Thunderdome 52 fight this Friday in Perth , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Granite Chin Promotions signs Milton pro boxer Jenn Perella , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Mabuhay at Salamat: ‘The Thirty’ Filipino Boxers Who Became Giants By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025World-ranked Lightweight Dynamo Justin Pauldo Collides with Hard-punching Nike Theran , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Fastest Pinay in IronMan 70.3 World comes from Lanao del Norte By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Two-time middleweight world champion Gennadiy Golovkin confirmed as new President of World Boxing at Congress 2025 in Rome , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Panama City will host the World Boxing Ordinary Congress in 2026 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Tadlas, Busayong rule 42K in 3rd SDSPPO Run for a Cause By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025"The Mexican Monster" Terrorizes the 175: Benavidez Demolishes Yarde to Win WBC Light Heavyweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Harden scores 55 points for a new LA Clippers record By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Devin Haney Dominates Brian Norman Jr. to Claim WBO Welterweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025"Bam" Rodriguez Stops "Puma" Martínez in 10 By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Abdullah Mason Edges Sam Noakes in War, Becomes Youngest Current World Champion By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|