Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose was the hero on Friday night as his three-pointer to beat the clock sealed a 99-96 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
READ MORE:
Wittman furious with Wall report: Coach slams report suggesting clash with medical staff.
Barnes fined $50k for trash talking Harden’s mum: Clipper star oversteps line again.
Rose game-winner vs Cavaliers: (Video) Thrilling end to Game 3.
Rose banked a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the game with 30 points on Friday night as the Bulls took a 2-1 series lead over their bitter rivals ahead of Game 4 on Sunday.
In a dramatic game which saw the momentum swing both ways on multiple occasions, JR Smith had tied the scores just seconds earlier with a clutch three of his own, but Rose had the last word in what looks set to be an epic series.
“I’m just thankful and grateful that my teammates gave me the ball,” he said, ESPN reports.
“They believed in me down the stretch. They kept getting me the ball, kept encouraging me to play the way that I usually play. And no, I did not call glass.”
The initial play was for the point guard to make a dash to the corner, but he opted to change tactic and ran towards the in-bounds pass from Mike Dunleavy.
Rose side-stepped Tristan Thompson to create some space before letting fly with the shot and he admits that he didn’t intend on banking it in off the glass even though he insisted that it felt good when it left his hands.
The former MVP was mobbed by his teammates in the immediate aftermath, and this is certainly a significant point for the Bulls who have been left heartbroken in similar circumstances on numerous occasions.
With Rose seemingly back to a high level and Jimmy Butler providing great support, it remains to be seen if Chicago can take a commanding lead with a Game 4 win at the UC on Sunday.
COMMENTS