Bulls pull one out
The comparisons between Ben Gordon and Michael Jordan now carry some postseason credibility.
The rookie scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter in the opener of the Eastern Conference first-round Sunday, lifting the short-handed Bulls to a 103-94 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards and giving Chicago its first playoff victory since the dynasty days.
“This is great for the franchise,” Gordon said. “We haven’t been here in so long.”
Fellow rookie Andres Nocioni also had a huge game, scoring 25 points and grabbing 18 rebounds while playing all 48 minutes.
Gordon has reached double figures in the fourth quarter 22 times this season, but none was bigger than this show. Already hampered without ailing starters Eddy Curry and Luol Deng, the Bulls looked like they might come up short with Tyson Chandler in foul trouble and Gilbert Arenas finally finding his groove.
After going scoreless in the first half, Arenas converted a three-point play to give Washington an 82-77 lead going into the fourth quarter.
But just as he’s done all season, Gordon was there to carry the Bulls. His late-game heroics have many in the city calling him the next Jordan, as in, “Gordon, rhymes with Jordan.” Gordon shies away from the comparisons, but it’s hard to argue with his numbers.
Gordon scored 10 points as the Bulls opened the fourth quarter with a 13-4 run.
“We’re riding Ben like we always do,” said Kirk Hinrich, who finished with 17 points on a rough shooting night.
The loss spoiled a superb night by Larry Hughes, who scored 24 of his 31 points in the first half.
Heat 116, Nets 98
Shaquille O’Neal didn’t put up his customary big playoff numbers. Dwyane Wade and Damon Jones made sure it wasn’t necessary.
Both of Miami’s starting guards put up playoff career-highs in scoring, Wade getting 32 points and Jones 30 on 10-for-12 shooting to lead the top-seeded Heat to a win over visiting New Jersey in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.
O’Neal, who suffered a deep right thigh bruise a week ago and has been hampered since, finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes.
Vince Carter had 27 points and 10 rebounds for New Jersey.
Suns 114, Grizzlies 103
Phoenix never met a 3-pointer it didn’t like. Those long shots – and a long, lean reserve center – made the difference in a Western Conference first-round playoff-opening victory over visiting Memphis.
Shawn Marion had 26 points and 13 rebounds, and stringbean 7-foot backup Steven Hunter scored 16 points — one shy of his career high. The Suns set a franchise playoff record with 15 3-pointers against the Grizzlies in 32 attempts.