CHICAGO — The first Game 7 of the 2013 NBA playoffs is Saturday.
The Nets forced a deciding game with a 95-92 victory in Game 6 on Thursday, evening the series at 3-3 after falling behind 3-1.
It is the first time in Nets history that they have won an elimination game and forced a Game 7.
Brooklyn took advantage of mounting Chicago injuries and illness. Guard Kirk Hinrich missed his second consecutive game with a bruised left calf, forward Luol Deng sat out with flu-like symptoms, and guard Nate Robinson and forward Taj Gibson played with flu-like symptoms.
BOX SCORE: Nets beat Bulls
SCHEDULE: First-round times, TV info
The Bulls received a solid performance from its starting five. Guard Marco Belinelli, starting for Deng, had 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds; and Robinson had 18 points. Center Joakim Noah, battling plantar fasciitis had 14 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five blocks.
But with reserves pushed into starting roles, Chicago received little from its bench, and Brooklyn wore down the Bulls.
“If it becomes a war of attrition, hopefully there’s a slight advantage to us,” Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo said before the game.
Big man Andray Blatche had big moments down the stretch for the Nets. His seven-foot shot with 1:15 left put the Nets up 92-88, and he made 1-of-2 free throws with 32 seconds left, making it 93-90.
His two free throws with 19.2 seconds left put Brooklyn up 95-92.
The Bulls had a chance to tie, but Belinelli missed a three-pointer with 7.9 seconds left. Noah grabbed the rebound in the opposite corner but stepped out of bounds.
Noah then made up for his miscue by forcing a jump ball with 3.6 seconds left against Deron Williams on the Nets’ ensuing inbound play. But the Nets controlled the tip to win it.
Before the game, Thibodeau, as he has done for past two seasons, refused to blame injuries.
“If you want to use it as an excuse, you can. Preferably, we don’t,” Thibodeau said before the game.
The Nets’ starters matched Chicago’s, led by guards Williams (17 points and 11 assists) and Joe Johnson (17 and four).
Gerald Wallace had xx points, following up double-figure efforts in Games 4 and 5, the first time Wallace has strong together three consecutive games with 10 or more points since Nov. 30-Dec. 4. Center Brook Lopez scored xx points, and power forward Reggie Evans did what he does, collecting 15 rebounds.
Williams and Lopez handled the majority of the scoring in the final five minutes.
Guards C.J. Watson and Marshon Brooks and big men Kris Humphries and Andray Blatche gave the Nets just enough off the bench. Watson, playing against his former team, had nine points and made amends for his missed dunk in Game 4 that would have put the Nets up 16 with 3:16 left in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls completed the comeback and won in three overtimes. In Game 6, instead of dunking the ball after a steal, he made a lay-up.
Now, the Nets are intent on completing a difficult task.
Only eight teams have erased a 3-1 deficit and won the series, and the Phoenix Suns were the last to do it in 2006 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
Since 1946, 111 series have gone seven games, including four last season. While Brooklyn faces a tough odds in their quest to become the ninth team to overcome a 3-1 deficit, Chicago is trying to become the 22nd team to win a Game 7 on the road since 1947. However, the road team has won eight Game 7s since 1999.
The 4-5 series has been remarkably close since the 16-team playoff format was introduced in the 1984 playoffs – 29-29 before Thursday’s outcomes.
PHOTOS: Top shots from Nets-Bulls series
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Nets beat Bulls in Chicago to force Game 7 in Brooklyn – USA Today – USA TODAY
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