The Chicago Bulls put up yet another physical contest and a real challenge for the defending champions in their home court, looking nothing like the Bulls of Game 2.
It was the Miami Heat though who followed up a great Game 2 victory that clinched a 104-94 win in the Madhouse and a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
LeBron James shook off a slow start and a shove to the court that earned Nazr Mohammed his ejection to score 25 points, with Chris Bosh adding another 20 points, 19 rebounds and 2 blocks. Norris Cole had another terrific game, contributing with 18 points and 6-7 shooting.
The Bulls came to the game in a difficult position, missing once again Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and Derrick Rose, plus coming from their worst loss in franchise history in the postseason, they wouldn’t go without a fight though.Carlos Boozer led Chicago with 21 points. Robinson and Jimmy Butler each scored 17.Joakim Noah added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Marco Belinelli had 16 pointsChicago showed composure, delivered offensively and brought their solid defense to the game once again.
Miami showed that they can get down and dirty too, though.
"You can't win a championship being pretty and shiny," Bosh said. "You're going to have to get dirty. You're going to have to play physical. You're going to have to dive on the floor. You're going to have to do things that are extremely tough.”
LeBron James delivered in the fourth quarter where he scored 12 points, after a slow first half. The reigning MVP had 5 points at the half and went for 6-17 shooting from the field. Although James wasn’t as efficient as he is used to, the Heat found their key scorers in Chris Bosh and Norris Cole.
"For (Bosh) to have 19 rebounds, and for Norris to come off the bench and defend the way he did against Nate and also contribute offensively -- a big-time drive in the fourth and a big-time 3 as well," James said. "Those two guys were the reason we won the game."
The game went head-to-head all the way up to the fourth quarter. While Miami was very effective from long range, scoring all of their first 6 jumpers, Chicago always had an answer, with a three pointer, or a basket from Carlos Boozer, who stepped up after being relatively quiet in the first two games of the series. The first half ended with the Bulls being down just 52-50.
Pushing and shoving was a big part of this game as well. Nazr Mohammed fouled James from behind in midcourt, their hands were tied-up, then Mohammed fell down and shoved James to the floor after getting up. LeBron James was called for a technical foul while Mohammed left an already short-handed Bulls team with one man less, with 9 minutes left in the first half.
“We’re here trying to win a basketball game,” James said. “All the extracurricular is not even really needed. But if it’s here, we accept the challenge.”
The two teams were 85-83 with 4 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, when Norris Cole scored a finger roll to give Miami a 4 point lead. Then James scored a deep three pointer to answer one scored by Marco Belinelli in the previous possession and when Carlos Boozer connected for a field goal, Norris Cole came up with a dagger 3-pointer, to give Miami a 96-88 lead with 1:50 to go.
Miami won this game playing solid basketball, opting to execute well rather than making the big highlight plays. Chicago stood well against them, but now they have to find a way to stop Miami from claiming another one in their home court, on Monday night.