Times wires
Thursday, April 21, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS — Derrick Rose struggled throughout but still found a way to be the difference-maker in the end.
Rose scored 23, including the go-ahead layup with 17.8 seconds left, to help the Bulls beat the Pacers 88-84 on Thursday and take a 3-0 series lead.
The layup was his only field goal in the second half. Rose, who averaged 37.5 points in the first two games, made 4 of 18 shots as he was blanketed, and at times pummeled, by Paul George and Dahntay Jones.
"It was a little rough out there, but it's basketball," said Rose, who made 13 of 15 free throws. "They had something to prove."
Rose's layup sparked chants of "MVP!" from the thousands of Bulls fans who made the three-hour drive.
Danny Granger, who scored a team-high 21, then missed a 26-footer for Indiana, which couldn't hold double-digit leads in Games 1 and 2 and led by five early in the fourth Thursday.
"We played really tough," Pacers guard Darren Collison said. "Things just didn't go our way."
Bulls 88, Pacers 84
CHICAGO (88): Deng 8-19 3-4 21, Boozer 2-10 0-0 4, Noah 3-6 5-6 11, Rose 4-18 13-15 23, Bogans 3-4 0-0 9, Gibson 3-5 0-0 6, Brewer 0-2 2-2 2, Watson 0-1 0-0 0, Korver 5-6 0-0 12, Asik 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-72 23-27 88.
INDIANA (84): Granger 10-21 0-0 21, Hansbrough 3-12 4-4 10, Hibbert 3-12 0-0 6, Collison 4-8 1-2 9, George 1-9 4-4 6, Dunleavy 2-4 2-2 6, D.Jones 5-9 1-1 11, Foster 1-1 0-0 2, Price 2-9 0-0 4, Rush 0-0 0-0 0, McRoberts 2-2 5-5 9. Totals 33-87 17-18 84.
Chicago 21 21 23 23— 88
Indiana 17 25 22 20— 84
3-Point Goals—Chicago 9-20 (Bogans 3-3, Korver 2-3, Rose 2-6, Deng 2-6, Watson 0-1, Thomas 0-1), Indiana 1-10 (Granger 1-5, George 0-1, D.Jones 0-1, Dunleavy 0-1, Price 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Chicago 51 (Boozer 11), Indiana 52 (George 12). Assists—Chicago 20 (Deng 6), Indiana 11 (Dunleavy, Granger, Collison, George 2). Total Fouls—Chicago 20, Indiana 20. A—18,165 (18,165).
Heat also goes up 3-0
PHILADELPHIA — Dwyane Wade had 32 points and 10 rebounds and LeBron James 24 and 15 as the Heat beat the 76ers 100-94 for a 3-0 series lead.
Wade delivered with a string of big baskets — he was 10-of-19 from the field and 12-for-12 from the free-throw line — in the third and fourth. He drew a foul on a spin move against Jrue Holiday and made two free throws with 51.6 seconds left that sealed it.
"We're a desperate team," James said. "We want to continue to play that way. D-Wade had an unbelievable game."
The Heat trailed by 10 early and by eight after the 76ers' 12-0 run in the third. But in a play that showed the greatness of James and Wade, James stumbled as he made a move and flipped an underhanded pass to Wade for a dunk that cut it to 68-64.
"Luckily, I was able to get rid of the ball before I traveled and D-Wade was able to slam it home," said James, who put Miami ahead for good, 76-75, with a 3-pointer 58 seconds into the fourth. "It's a great play for us, a great team win."
Elton Brand, who scored only 20 in the first two games combined, led Philadelphia with 21.
"I'm a moral person," 76ers coach Doug Collins said. "But I don't like moral victories."
Heat 100, 76ers 94
MIAMI (100): James 8-15 7-10 24, Bosh 8-19 3-6 19, Ilgauskas 5-9 0-0 10, Bibby 1-5 0-0 3, Wade 10-19 12-12 32, Jones 2-3 2-2 8, Anthony 2-6 0-0 4, Chalmers 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 36-79 24-30 100.
PHILADELPHIA (94): Iguodala 3-10 3-4 10, Brand 9-15 3-4 21, Hawes 6-11 0-0 12, Holiday 7-13 2-4 20, Meeks 2-8 0-0 6, Battie 2-2 0-0 4, Williams 5-12 3-5 15, Turner 1-3 0-0 2, Young 1-8 2-2 4. Totals 36-82 13-19 94.
Miami 21 29 23 27— 100
Philadelphia 29 23 23 19— 94
3-Point Goals—Miami 4-12 (Jones 2-3, Bibby 1-3, James 1-4, Chalmers 0-2), Philadelphia 9-21 (Holiday 4-5, Williams 2-5, Meeks 2-6, Iguodala 1-4, Hawes 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Miami 56 (James 15), Philadelphia 45 (Brand 11). Assists—Miami 19 (Wade 8), Philadelphia 24 (Iguodala 10). Total Fouls—Miami 12, Philadelphia 20. Technicals—Philadelphia defensive three second. A—20,404 (20,318).
Timberwolves star honored: Minnesota's Kevin Love won the Most Improved Player award. A year after being a sixth man, the forward averaged 20.2 points and a league-high 15.2 rebounds, and his streak of 53 double doubles was the longest since Elvin Hayes in 1973-74.
Around the league: Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire, who missed the second half of Game 2 with back spasms, did not practice but expects to play tonight. Knicks guard Chauncey Billups, who missed Game 2 with a strained left knee, is questionable. … Saying he was "emotional" and "frustrated," Blazers guard Brandon Roy apologized for comments he made about playing time after Game 2. He played eight minutes and didn't score.
Late Wednesday: Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 11 rebounds to help the host Lakers beat the Hornets 87-78 and even the series at 1. Kobe Bryant scored just 11 for Los Angeles. But he helped slow Chris Paul, who had 20 points and nine assists after 33 and 14 in Game 1.