Blogs.Bulls.com

The Chicago Bulls made it interesting during Game 7 in Boston, climbing back from 14 points down to get within five under a minute to go, but in the end it was the defending world champions holding on for the win, 109-99, and a 4-3 victory in what many consider the best-ever series in NBA postseason history.

The Bulls started out strong, leading 28-23 through one quarter of play. Ben Gordon scored 17 points in the first 13 minutes of the game, but it was the second frame that ultimately doomed Chicago. The Celtics took advantage turnovers and dominated the offensive glass, outscoring the Bulls 29-11 in the period and claiming a 52-38 lead at the intermission.

Although a 33-point third quarter helped Chicago cut the deficit, it was again Ray Allen (23 points, seven rebounds) and Paul Pierce (20 points, nine boards) who made enough plays down the stretch to help Boston advance, where it will face Orlando in the second round.

Ben Gordon scored 33 points to lead the Bulls, while Derrick Rose chipped in with 18 and Joakim Noah grabbed 15 boards to go with seven points. Kirk Hinrich added 16 points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter.

In a hard fought series that saw 106 lead changes in it’s first six games (none in Game 3), only two took place in Game 7, one of the three non-overtime games in the series.