Kevin Huerter’s 3-pointer with one second remaining gave the Chicago Bulls a 114-111 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.
The Bulls earned their win over the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference on a night that during which celebration was already scheduled with the retirement of Derrick Rose’s jersey at Chicago’s United Center.
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Outscoring the Bulls 30-22 in the second quarter, the Celtics took a 58-52 lead at halftime. However, Chicago rallied to go on top 73-72 on an Isaac Okoro layup midway through the third quarter. Boston briefly regained the lead on an Anfernee Simons 3-pointer, but the Bulls then went on a 16-8 run to close out the frame.
Chicago maintained its lead through the first five minutes of the fourth quarter until the Celtics went back on top 100-99 on a layup by Jordan Walsh. The two teams then traded the lead on 3s from Boston’s Derrick White and the Bulls’ Patrick Williams before Chicago again built a four-point margin with 5:29 remaining in regulation.
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Both teams had difficulty generating offense during the next five minutes, but Jaylen Brown broke through for two baskets in a two-minute stretch to tie the score at 111-111 with 14.2 seconds left in the game.
Out of a timeout, the Bulls worked the ball around the left side of the arc from Josh Giddey to Coby White, who then passed to Huerter in the corner for the game-winner. The Celtics could not get a shot in the final second of the game.
Chicago is on the fringes of playoff contention, tied for the No. 8 seed in the East at 23-22. The Bulls have won four consecutive games and six of their past eight. Boston (28-17) lost the second end of back-to-back games after defeating the Brooklyn Nets in double overtime on Friday night.
Derrick Rose’s stellar Bulls career honored
Rose’s retirement ceremony was highlighted by a video message from Michael Jordan. The 15-year NBA veteran joined Jordan as one of the five players to have their number retired in franchise history.
The others to have their jersey raised to the rafters are Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan and Bob Love. Celtics legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell also had his No. 6 retired across the NBA.
A Chicago native, Rose was the No. 1 overall pick by the Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft and played seven years for the organization. He won Rookie of the Year honors and was named MVP for the 2010-11 season, just his third in the league. The Bulls went 62-20 that season, tied for the third-best record in team history and the only Bulls club to win 60 games without Jordan.
At 22, Rose is the youngest player to ever win MVP. Only 15 other players have won Rookie of the Year and MVP honors during their NBA careers.
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