The Chicago Bulls did again what they have done on the way to three straight NBA championships - sweep their first-round playoff series - while the Miami Heat are close to winning a series for the first time.
Scottie Pippen sank the go-ahead basket on a driving left-handed layup with 1:25 left in overtime Tuesday night, and the Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 95-92 for a three-game sweep.It's the fifth time in seven years the Bulls have eliminated the Cavs, and in two of those, Michael Jordan did it with last-second shots.
Elsewhere, Miami pulled within one victory, not only of its first playoff victory, but also a unique postseason upset. A No. 8 seed has never defeated a No. 1 seed in the first round, but Miami's 90-86 victory gave the Heat a 2-1 lead in the series against Atlanta, which had the best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference.
"We haven't won anything, but we're happy to go up 2-1," said Steve Smith, who scored 25 points to lead Miami for the third straight game.
"Our backs are to the wall," said Atlanta's Kevin Willis, who combined with teammate Mookie Blaylock to score just 11 points.
The first game between the two teams since a brawl during Atlanta's 104-86 victory Saturday was cleanly played. Three players, including Heat starting forward Grant Long, missed the game while serving suspensions that resulted from the fight.
Trail Blazers 118, Rockets 115
At Portland, Ore., Rod Strickland scored 25 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, and tied a team playoff record with 15 assists for Portland against Houston.
Vernon Maxwell sank two 3-pointers in the final 27 seconds, one from 40 feet, to give the Blazers a major scare. But Clyde Drexler deflected Maxwell's forced 3-pointer with three seconds left and Houston trailing 117-115. The Rockets didn't get off another shot.