Bulls edge Cavs
Derrick Rose scores 25 points to lead Chicago to a 99-92 victory over Cleveland in Game 1.
Derrick Rose scored 25 points and Pau Gasol added 21 with 10 rebounds, leading the Bulls to a 99-92 victory over the short-handed Cavaliers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal Monday night.
Looking like the MVP he was before being slowed by knee injuries, Rose helped the Bulls swipe home-court advantage from the Cavs, who were missing starters Kevin Love and J.R. Smith.
Jimmy Butler added 20 points and banked in a contested jumper with 30 seconds left as the Bulls closed it out.
Kyrie Irving scored 30 and LeBron James added 19 and 15 rebounds for the Cavs, playing their first game since Love was lost for the remainder of the postseason with a shoulder injury.
The Cavs trailed by only four points in the final minutes, but they forced several 3-point attempts and James missed a tough layup with 51 seconds left.
It was the first time in 85 home playoff games for James that his team did not lead. The Bulls, who hit 10 of 18 3-pointers, led by as many as 16.
Not worth the risk: Chris Paul did not play for the Clippers against the Rockets in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal Monday night because of a strained left hamstring
Paul was injured Saturday night in a Game 7 victory against the Spurs but returned to hit the game-winning shot.
Coach Doc Rivers said the All-Star point guard could have played if it were an elimination game, but it wasn’t worth the risk for Game 1. Rivers’ son, Austin, got the start.