Getting up for the big games has rarely been a problem for this bunch of Chicago Bulls in recent memory, and with the formidable and decorated San Antonio Spurs coming to town, there was very little doubt the effort would be as present as the sold-out crowd.
The execution was the question, and even though they didn’t score a basket in the last half of the fourth quarter, the defense of their headliners closed out the 92-89 win at the United Center.
Jimmy Butler forced a miss from Kawhi Leonard with seconds remaining, then Derrick Rose got just enough of his hands on Tony Parker’s corner triple after Tim Duncan recovered the ball, sealing the win.