SICK AND TIED
Nets force Game 7 vs. Bulls, but Noah guarantees victory in Brooklyn
‘‘Broadway Joakim’’ suddenly had a nice ring to it.
After the Bulls’ 95-92 loss Thursday in Game 6 against the Brooklyn Nets at the United Center, center Joakim Noah called his team’s shot heading into Game 7.
“I’m ready to play,’’ Noah said. “I want to go play right now. That’s my emotions. We’re a team of fighters. We keep getting punched in the face, but we fight back. I’m proud of this team, and we’re going to go into a hostile environment in Brooklyn, and we’re going to win.’’
Tough words from a team that had a 3-1 lead and has lost two straight to force a do-or-die game Saturday.
But the history wasn’t lost on Noah. He was born and raised in New York, the birthplace of famous sports guarantees, starting with Joe Namath’s before Super Bowl III.
So when asked what it would mean to return home and break his old city’s heart, Noah again pulled no punches.
“I’m just ready to kick some [butt],’’ he said.
It would be nice if he had some more help this time.
Already without Kirk Hinrich (bruised left calf ) for a second consecutive game, the Bulls were struck with a flu virus that hit Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Nate Robinson.
It was so bad for Deng that he had a spinal tap done on Wednesday night to rule out spinal meningitis, but it came back negative. Deng was scratched and sent home just before tipoff.
Robinson, who started for Hinrich, played just under 42 minutes. He had to take some time on the bench in the third quarter to vomit into a bucket.
“If there’s a team in the league that plays harder than [the Bulls], I don’t know who it is,’’ Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo said.
Too bad the Bulls and coach Tom Thibodeau aren’t in the excuse business.
“We’re still the Chicago Bulls,’’ swingman Jimmy Butler said. ‘‘Down three, four, five, seven people, we’re still expected to win games, so we didn’t do what we were expected to do.’’
Well, it wasn’t because they lacked chances. Even after allowing 33 points in the first quarter, the Bulls kept the game close in the second half, hoping the Nets would suffer a repeat of Game 4 in which they
blew a 14-point lead with three minutes left and eventually fell in triple overtime.
Marco Belinelli, who had a game-high 22 points, made a three-pointer with 2:19 left, cutting the deficit to 90-88. Andray Blatche hit a seven-foot jumper to put the Nets up by four, but Robinson answered with a jumper.
After missed opportunities by both teams, as well as missed free throws, Belinelli had a chance to tie the game with a three, but his shot went long. Noah ran it down but stepped out of bounds.
Noah tied up Deron Williams on the inbounds, however, forcing a jump ball.
Nets guard Joe Johnson grabbed the tip and ran out the clock.
“We’ve been short-handed most of the year,’’ Thibodeau said. “I feel we’re more than capable. We need one great game, and that’s all we’re thinking about.’’