NBA Bulls stun Celtics while Cavs rip Pistons
Agence France-Presse | 04/19/2009 7:32 AM
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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 their first-round best-of-seven series with the reigning champions.
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.
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."
Ben Gordon scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Chicago and Tyrus Thomas scored 16 points, including six of the Bulls' eight points in overtime.
Joakim Noah scored 11 points and added 17 rebounds for Chicago in his NBA playoff debut, even though Rose swiped top honors among debutantes.
"He's poised beyond his years," Gordon said. "He already carries himself like a veteran out there. He had a phenomenal game, to say the least."
Taking advantage of the Celtics playing without Kevin Garnett, last year's NBA Defensive Player of the Year who is out with a sore right knee, the Bulls matched Boston's banging inside and outscored them when it mattered most.
"When I get the ball in my hand I calm down," Rose said. "The game was so physical and aggressive. They were knocking the ball out of my hand sometimes. But we stuck through it.
"It was fun. Every play was crucial. You can?t come down and shoot dumb shots or anything like that. You have to play defense every possession. You?ve got to expect aggressiveness. It?s going to be a tough game. I prepared for it and we did all right."
Rajon Rondo scored 29 points while Paul Pierce added 23 points, going 8-of-21 from the field. Pierce missed a potential winning free throw late in regulation and had a potential tying basket blocked in overtime.
"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."
Ray Allen scored only four points on 1-of-12 shooting for Boston, which won a league-record 17th NBA crown last season but face a hungry Chicago club.
"The guys have taken a big step forward," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We know we have a huge challenge in front of us. We'll enjoy this one for a minute and then get back to work."
At Cleveland, James sank a 40-footer from mid-court at the half-time buzzer to highlight his amazing day. He 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.
The Pistons went 3-of-15 from the field to close the first half, staking Cleveland to a huge lead they built upon in the second half.
"We have to know where LeBron is at all times," Detroit's Richard Hamilton said. "When you score 38 against us, we can't have that and have a chance. We have to figure out a way to stop him."
Joe Smith added 13 points for Cleveland, which also had 12 points and 10 rebounds from Lithuania's Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
