jQuery(document).ready(function() { addByline("Marc D'Amico", "Celtics.com", "Marc_DAmico"); keysToTheGame('post'); });
Key Moment
Offensive rebounding opened the door for the Chicago Bulls. Then Dwyane Wade closed it on the Boston Celtics.
Two days after grabbing 20 offensive rebounds and scoring 23 second-chance points during Game 1, the Bulls hauled in six more boards and scored eight second-chance points during the opening quarter of Game 2. Those numbers helped Chicago open up a 12-point lead during the first period.
The Bulls played from ahead for nearly the rest of the night, and they used a trio of big shots from Wade during the fourth quarter to seal their win.
Wade, who had scored 11 points during the first three quarters, doubled his point total during the final period. The first three points came via a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key, just as Boston has seemingly begun to build some momentum. His trey pushed Chicago’s lead back to 12 shortly after the C’s has sliced it to single-digits.
Wade then tossed in a running floater on Chicago’s next possession to make it a 14-point game, and he canned another 3-pointer with 5:18 left on the clock to make it a 19-point game.
Boston heaved 3-pointer after 3-pointer from that moment on in an attempt to get back into the game. Those shots, however, were off nearly every single time.
Chicago held on for a 111-97 victory, thanks in large part to Wade’s fantastic performance in the clutch.
Key Player
Bobby Portis was the man for Chicago during Game 1. Paul Zipser was the man for Chicago during Game 2.
The country didn’t know who these guys were before this series began, but they sure do now.
Zipser came off of Chicago’s bench to score 16 points Tuesday night on an efficient 6-for-8 shooting performance. The Bulls needed every one of those points, because the rest of their bench combined to score only nine points in the game.
Zipser didn’t do much else during this game, but he didn’t need to. His scoring provided the Bulls with exactly what they needed from their bench, and they’ve now gotten it one way or another during each of the first two games of the series.
Box Score Nuggets
- All five of Chicago's starters scored at least 11 points.
- Boston outscored Chicago 52-44 in the paint.
- Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade led the game in scoring with 22 points apiece.
- Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 20 points.
- Paul Zipser scored 16 of Chicago's 25 bench points.
- The C's shot a woeful 11-for-19 from the free-throw line.
- Marcus Smart (13 points, eight rebounds, two steals, two blocks) and Kelly Olynyk (11 points, seven assists, four rebounds) both played well for Boston off the bench.
- Olynyk's seven assists led the Celtics.
- Rajon Rondo led the game with 14 assists. He also tallied 11 points and nine rebounds.
- All five of Chicago's starters finished with a plus/minus rating of at least plus-17.
- Al Horford led Boston with 11 rebounds.
- Jae Crowder scored 16 points for Boston on 6-for-11 shooting.
- The Celtics outscored the Bulls by 11 points during Terry Rozier's 12:44 of playing time.
Quote of the Night
Brad Stevens on facing a 2-0 hole in the series.