Bulls stun Celtics in overtime, Cavaliers pip Pistons
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 20, 2009 00:00
BOSTON, Massachusetts - Derrick Rose scored 36 points, matching the best playoff debut in National Basketball Association history, to power Chicago to a 105-103 overtime upset of defending champion Boston.
Rose equaled the mark set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970 to spark the Bulls to their first playoff victory over the Celtics in 11 tries, giving Chicago a 1-0 lead in its first-round best-of-seven series with the reigning champion.
Rose, who also contributed 11 assists, had the Bulls' best playoff-game point production since Michael Jordan retired.
"I was just out there feeling the game," Rose said. "I want all the pressure, saying that as a rookie I can't lead the team and all that. We just fed off that. We played our type of game, up tempo type, and we played good."
Rajon Rondo scored 29 points while Paul Pierce added 23 points, going 8-of-21 from the field.
Wake-up call
"I hope this is a wake-up call," Pierce said. "I hope we realize that the Bulls, they're not just a team that's happy to be in the playoffs so hopefully the guys will wake up and realize this is reality. We've better come to play."
In Saturday's other Eastern Conference playoff opener, LeBron James scored 38 points, grabbed eight rebounds and passed off seven assists to power regular-season win leader Cleveland past visiting Detroit 102-84.
James went 13-of-20 from the field, 11-of-14 from the free throw line and did not make a turnover. "It's tough when he is going like that, no matter what you do" Pistons forward Antonio McDyess said.
Meanwhile, Yao Ming scored 24 points on a perfect shooting night and the Houston Rockets overpowered Portland 108-81. Yao, who went 9-of-9 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line, played only 25 minutes in the blowout victory, being removed midway into the third quarter after being whistled for his fourth foul.
"It's important mentally," Yao said. "We want to win the first game because that's how we take control of the series."
In the other Western Conference playoff opener, Josh Howard scored 25 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 19 to spark a 105-97 Dallas victory at San Antonio, snapping a nine-game Mavericks road playoff losing streak. "We haven't played well on the road all season long," Nowitzki said. "We've had ups and downs but we finished the season strong and I think that gives us confidence."
Tim Duncan has been nagged by a left knee injury and the Spurs are already without Argentine star Manu Ginobili.
Rose, who also contributed 11 assists, had the Bulls' best playoff-game point production since Michael Jordan retired.
"I was just out there feeling the game," Rose said. "I want all the pressure, saying that as a rookie I can't lead the team and all that. We just fed off that. We played our type of game, up tempo type, and we played good."
Rajon Rondo scored 29 points while Paul Pierce added 23 points, going 8-of-21 from the field.
Wake-up call
"I hope this is a wake-up call," Pierce said. "I hope we realize that the Bulls, they're not just a team that's happy to be in the playoffs so hopefully the guys will wake up and realize this is reality. We've better come to play."
In Saturday's other Eastern Conference playoff opener, LeBron James scored 38 points, grabbed eight rebounds and passed off seven assists to power regular-season win leader Cleveland past visiting Detroit 102-84.
James went 13-of-20 from the field, 11-of-14 from the free throw line and did not make a turnover. "It's tough when he is going like that, no matter what you do" Pistons forward Antonio McDyess said.
Meanwhile, Yao Ming scored 24 points on a perfect shooting night and the Houston Rockets overpowered Portland 108-81. Yao, who went 9-of-9 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line, played only 25 minutes in the blowout victory, being removed midway into the third quarter after being whistled for his fourth foul.
"It's important mentally," Yao said. "We want to win the first game because that's how we take control of the series."
In the other Western Conference playoff opener, Josh Howard scored 25 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 19 to spark a 105-97 Dallas victory at San Antonio, snapping a nine-game Mavericks road playoff losing streak. "We haven't played well on the road all season long," Nowitzki said. "We've had ups and downs but we finished the season strong and I think that gives us confidence."
Tim Duncan has been nagged by a left knee injury and the Spurs are already without Argentine star Manu Ginobili.