Nets seal win in Chicago to tie series 3-3, force decider at home.
A depleted Chicago Bulls team were unable to seal the win they needed to progress as the Brooklyn Nets’ 95-92 win tied the series 3-3, with the decider taking place at the Barclays Center on Saturday.
Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Deron Williams all had 17 points apiece, while Marco Belinelli had a game-high 22 points to lead the Bulls, but ultimately it wasn’t enough.
Having already lost the services of Kirk Hinrich through injury for the last two games, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was without Luol Deng who was suffering from flu, while Taj Gibson was also effected but managed to play 18 minutes.
The injury news doesn’t get any better for the Bulls who are likely to be without Hinrich for the deciding-game as reports suggest it is a muscle tear in his calf as opposed to just merely bruising.
Both Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah had double-doubles, but the pressure will now be on them to deliver in what will undoubtedly be a hostile reception in Brooklyn for Game 7, as the Bulls spurned the chance of wrapping the series up at home.
Despite being severely weakened as a result of the numerous absentees, Thibodeau remained upbeat about his team’s chances in Brooklyn, and believes that they “have enough” to secure a place in the Eastern Conference semi-finals where the Miami Heat lie in wait.
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