The Boston Celtics became the first home team to win a game in this series, using a big fourth quarter to propel themselves to a 108-97 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford led the way in crunch time for the Celtics, who now lead the series 3-2. It if the first time this series in which they have led.
Those two players spearheaded a 20-4 run in the fourth quarter that broke the game open. Trailing 85-84 with 10 minutes to play, Thomas had eight points and Horford had nine during that six-minute spurt to put this one away.
Horford picks off the inbounds pass and takes it all the way! pic.twitter.com/AB69V7nSCo
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 27, 2017
.@Isaiah_Thomas with the circus shot!! #Celtics #NBA #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/drZWBBKI0a
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) April 27, 2017
Thomas finished the team-high 24 points with five rebounds and four assists, while Horford had 21 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
As good as those two were late in the game, Avery Bradley was early for the Celtics. He almost singlehandedly helped Boston keep pace with Chicago in the first half, scoring 17 of his 24 points in the opening stanza as Boston held a 52-50 lead at halftime.
WHAT. A. PASS! @Isaiah_Thomas droppin' dimes! #Celtics #NBA #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/rw0XyCu9p9
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) April 27, 2017
.@T_Rozzay3 shows off his hops with this thunderous slam!! #Celtics #NBA #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/UioLTyqaJH
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) April 27, 2017
Boston threatened to take total control of the game with a quick spurt at the start of the third quarter, but the Bulls fought back on the strength of their defense, taking a two-point lead into the final quarter.
.@JimmyButler beats the buzzer and gives the #Bulls the lead!! #BullsNation #NBA #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/EwMcfP8yX0
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) April 27, 2017
From there, the Thomas and Horford took over and never looked back.
Dwyane Wade (26 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists) nearly recorded his first career playoff triple-double (shocking he doesn't have one, I know) to lead the Bulls. Jimmy Butler finished with 14 points, while Isaiah Canaan - starting in place of the injured Rajon Rondo - had a playoff career-high 13 points.
Game 6 will be back in Chicago on Friday. Tip-off time is set for 8:00 pm ET on ESPN.
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