The Chicago Bulls return home to the United Center on Thursday a near defeated team as they face the Miami Heat and a 1-3 deficit.
The Chicago Bulls opened the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals with a statement as they worked the Miami Heat for a 21 point victory in game one.
However since that time the conference finals have been all Miami and the Heat are now on the verge of making it to the 2011 NBA Finals where the Dallas Mavericks are already waiting.
In game four Miami posted an eight point win 101-93, a victory that came in overtime. The Heat overcame a significant deficit in the game, an ability that all championship teams have. Miami trailed by double-digits in the first quarter mainly due to poor shooting but they still managed an 8-0 run to close the quarter and to stay close.
Chicago shot well in the second frame but the Heat only trailed by two at halftime as they kept pace with the Bulls.
Lebron James scored 10 points in a very solid third-quarter but Miami still trailed 68-63 after three. In the fourth quarter the basket seemed to have a lid for the Bulls as the Heat held Chicago to 33.3 percent shooting in the last frame of regulation.
That low shooting percentage enabled Miami to make up the moderate gap and in the overtime period James and Dwyane Wade made the difference to give their club a chance to close out in five.
James finished with a game-high 35 points and Chris Bosh, who has been playing well offensively for the Heat, scored 22 points.
Game five takes place tonight from Chicago, a factor that gives the Bulls a better chance to keep their season alive. Starting time is 8:30pm ET and television coverage is available with TNT.
The Heat are under some pressure to close the series out fast as they do not want the Mavs to have an advantage in terms of rest entering the 2011 NBA Finals.
