MILWAUKEE — The Chicago Bulls finally delivered a knockout blow to the Milwaukee Bucks — not literally, although it sure seemed to come close at times. And for all of Chicago’s star power, it was Mike Dunleavy in the middle
MILWAUKEE — The Chicago Bulls finally delivered a knockout blow to the Milwaukee Bucks — not literally, although it sure seemed to come close at times. And for all of Chicago’s star power, it was Mike Dunleavy in the middle of it all.
Dunleavy scored 20 points and the Bulls came close to an NBA playoff record, finally putting away the Bucks with a 120-66 victory in Game 6 to clinch their first-round series Thursday night.
Dunleavy seemed to have his biggest impact away from the ball, getting under the young Bucks skins with physical play that drew retaliation.
“They had some momentum in the series, won a couple in a row,” Dunleavy said. “We came out on their court and put it on them. That’s frustrating. If anybody’s been there before, that’s frustrating, and I understand that.”
The Bulls, who move on to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, finished four points from the NBA playoff record for largest margin of victory. Minnesota beat St. Louis 133-75 on March 19, 1956.
“It looks a lot better when the ball goes in,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “The thing that you want to make sure of is, sometimes you don’t have control over when the ball goes in or doesn’t go in. If they are the right shots, you want to shoot them. You do have control over your intensity, your concentration.”
The game was over early, but it still featured plenty of the intensity and bad blood that marked the first five games of the series. Dunleavy drew the foul that led to the ejection of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo for a flagrant 2 foul just before halftime.
Pau Gasol scored 19 points and Jimmy Butler added 16 for the Bulls, who started the series with a 3-0 lead before two straight wins by the defensive-minded Bucks put them back in position to tie it. Derrick Rose scored 15 points and all five Chicago starters were in double figures.
Clippers 102, Spurs 96
SAN ANTONIO — Blake Griffin had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Chris Paul had 19 points and 15 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers held on for a 102-96 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night, forcing a Game 7 in their first-round series.
Marco Belinelli hit two 3-pointers in the final 80 seconds, including one with 14 seconds remaining, to cut the Clippers lead to 98-96. But Jamal Crawford hit two free throws to preserve the win.
The Clippers, who won for the second time in San Antonio, forced a Game 7 on Saturday in Los Angeles. No other first-round series has gone the distance.
J.J. Redick added 19 points and DeAndre Jordan had 15 points and 14 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Belinelli led San Antonio with 23 points, including going 7 for 11 from 3-point range.
By wire sources
