Final
Bulls aim to finish off Pacers
Apr 23, 2011 - 2:34 PM (Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers have fought and clawed against top- seeded Chicago but have nothing to show for it as they try to stave off elimination in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Conseco Fieldhouse.Derrick Rose drove for the go-ahead layup with 17.8 seconds left on Thursday, as the Bulls held on for another close victory, 88-84. Chicago now holds a 3-0 lead in the series, but none of the wins have come easy. The Bulls beat Indiana by scores of 104-99 and 96-90 in the first two games, before scraping out another victory in Game 3 thanks to Rose's big shot, which put Chicago on the cusp of a sweep.
Rose, the leading candidate for NBA MVP this season, shot just 4-of-18 overall and missed his first five shots in the fourth quarter, but came up with a key play when the Bulls needed one.
Chicago had gained possession after Indiana's Darren Collison missed a contested mid-range jumper with 33.4 seconds left. After a timeout Rose started his drive from the top of the arc, blowing past Dahntay Jones and Danny Granger, depositing the ball before Roy Hibbert could make it back to the paint in time to contest the shot. The lay-in gave the Bulls an 86-84 advantage and was Rose's only bucket in the second half.
"The whole time I was thinking of just going to the hole," Rose said. "It was tough all night the way that they were playing me. But at that time I saw a little space and I just went to the hole."
Indiana still had plenty of time, but with the seconds ticking down, Granger fired an ill-advised three-point try with two defenders draped all over him. The shot bounced off the left side of the rim, and Ronnie Brewer grabbed the rebound before securing the win with two free throws.
Rose drained 13-of-15 free throws and finished with 23 points, while Luol Deng ended with 21 points, six assists and six rebounds for the Bulls, who have won 12 straight games dating back to the regular season. Kyle Korver added 12 points off the bench, hitting several big shots down the stretch again and Joakim Noah had 11 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for Chicago.
"Korver killed us in the fourth," said Pacers interim head coach Frank Vogel. "He even killed us on the last play when we couldn't leave him to help, so that allowed Rose to get to the bucket."
Granger scored 21 points to lead the Pacers, who are on the verge of being swept out of their first playoff appearance since 2005-06. Paul George pulled down a game- and career-high 12 boards for the Pacers, while Jones added 11 points off the bench.
Collison started and played 34 minutes despite a sprained left ankle suffered midway through Game 2. He finished with nine points and two assists
"I can say it for all three games, it came (down) to one or two baskets or one or two possessions," said Indiana forward Tyler Hansbrough. "We were just so close."
No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit.
The Bulls also took three of four from the Pacers in the regular season.
The only other time these rivals have met in the playoffs previously was in the Eastern Conference finals back in 1997-98, when the Bulls topped the Pacers 4-3, moving on to win their final NBA Championship in the Jordan era.
Game 5, if necessary, is set for Tuesday back in Chicago.
- CHICAGO: 84
INDIANA: 89
Final
Apr 23 5:22 PM - CHICAGO: 56
INDIANA: 67
End of 3rd
Apr 23 4:30 PM - CHICAGO: 33
INDIANA: 49
Halftime
Apr 23 3:44 PM - CHICAGO: 19
INDIANA: 23
End of 1st
Apr 23 3:09 PM - CHICAGO: 0
INDIANA: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Apr 23 2:41 PM
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