Rondo throws elbow at Hinrich, stays in

May 1, 2009 - 4:45 AM CHICAGO (AP) -- Already embroiled in controversy, Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo threw an elbow at Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls late in the first quarter Thursday night but was not ejected from the first-round playoff game.

The Bulls dodged elimination, beating the Celtics 128-127 in triple overtime to tie this series at three games apiece.

Chicago was leading 34-25 when Derrick Rose rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Boston's Stephon Marbury with 30 seconds left. That's when Rondo shoved Hinrich into the scorer's table. Hinrich pushed him back and Rondo then threw an elbow that missed.

The result was a technical against Hinrich and a flagrant foul for Rondo, whose hard foul at the end of Game 5 left Brad Miller with a bloody mouth and Chicago fans seeing red. The NBA ruled the next day it was not a flagrant foul.

The fans were already booing Rondo loudly whenever he touched the ball before the skirmish with Hinrich.

"I thought he gave me a cheap shot, I went back at him and that was about it," Hinrich said.

Rondo left without talking to reporters.