Bulls stun Nets in triple OT thriller

CHICAGO: Nate Robinson came off the Chicago bench to score 34 points and the Bulls rallied to stun the Brooklyn Nets 142-134 in triple overtime on Saturday to seize command of their NBA playoff series.
The thriller matched the second-longest game in NBA playoff history, falling just short of Boston’s four-overtime triumph against Syracuse in 1953, and resulted in record playoff point totals for both clubs.
Chicago took a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven matchup and will try to finish off the Nets and advance to the second round with a triumph in Game 5 at Brooklyn on Monday.
The Nets led 109-95 late in the fourth quarter before Robinson scored 12 points in a 14-0 run that equalized.
Robinson’s 23 points in the fourth quarter was one shy of Michael Jordan’s team playoff record for scoring in a quarter. Robinson connected on 14-of-23 shots from the field but fouled out in the second extra session.
“We got a stop, and got the ball to Nate. Then we got a stop, and got the ball to Nate. Then we got a stop, and got the ball to Nate,” Carlos Boozer said of Chicago’s formula for the win.
Boozer added 21 points for Chicago, which had 15 points and 13 rebounds from Joakim Noah despite a foot injury.
Deron Williams led Brooklyn with 32 points while Brook Lopez added 26 and Joe Johnson contributed 22.
“It’s tough, man,” Johnson said. “It’s definitely a heartbreaker ... Honestly, this is definitely, definitely a game that we let get away. It’s disappointing ... but the series is not over and we’ve got to keep working and trying to get better.”
Noah sank a jumper early in the third over-time to give Chicago a 129-127 lead but then fouled out.
After a Reggie Evans free throw for the Nets, Jimmy Butler made a layup for Chicago and Taj Gibson, who replaced Noah, added a baseline jumper to give the Bulls a 133-128 lead.
Williams scored for the Nets, but Britain’s Luol Deng answered with a long jumper for a 135-130 edge.
Lopez responded with two free throws for the Nets but Nazr Mohammed followed with an inside jumper to give Chicago a 137-132 lead.
After a Lopez layup, Boozer sank one of two free throws and Mohammed grabbed the rebound on the miss and scored to give Chicago a 140-134 advantage.
After Mohammed grabbed the rebound on a Johnson 3-point miss, the Bulls had finally secured an astonishing comeback victory that had seemed impossible in the final minutes of regulation.
In the first overtime, Robinson sank a one-handed jumper over Williams with two seconds left but Johnson equalized at 121-121 on a jumper at the buzzer.
In the second overtime, Robinson gave the Bulls a 125-123 edge midway into the period and Noah followed with a slam dunk to put Chicago ahead 127-123.
Johnson answered with a 3-point play for the Nets and after Robinson fouled out Lopez made a free throw to equalize and set up the third overtime.
There was no such drama in Saturday’s other Eastern Conference clash, as the Atlanta Hawks dominated defensively on their home floor en route to a 90-69 tout of the Indiana Pacers.
Al Horford scored a playoff career-high 26 points with 16 rebounds as Atlanta trimmed the deficit in the series to 2-1.
Josh Smith added 14 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Hawks, who host game four on Monday.
Thunder 104 Rockets 101: Kevin Durant hit the go-ahead three pointer with 41.9 seconds left and matched his career playoff high with 41 points as visiting Oklahoma City overcame the loss of Russell Westbrook and held off a potent Houston charge to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference best-of-seven series.
Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder and pressured Carlos Delfino into missing a tying 3-point attempt from the right corner as time expired.
Oklahoma City learned earlier Saturday that Westbrook is out for the postseason after undergoing knee surgery for an injury suffered in Game 2.
James Harden scored 30 points, Chandler Parsons added 21 and Francisco Garcia had 18 for the Rockets, who recovered from a 26-point first-half deficit to briefly take the lead in the final quarter.
Game 4 is Monday in Houston.
Grizzlies 104 Clippers 83: Marc Gasol had 24 points and 13 rebounds and Zach Randolph had 24 and nine as host Memphis powered past Los Angeles to even the Western Conference best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Mike Conley added 15 points and 13 assists and Tayshaun Prince scored 15 points as the Grizzlies won their second straight game in the series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Blake Griffin had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Chris Paul scored 19 for the Clippers. Los Angeles shot just 41 percent from the field and was 4-for-21 from 3-point range.
The contest was tied at 62 late in the third quarter before Memphis went on a 14-5 surge to take a 76-67 lead on Quincy Pondexter’s 3-pointer with 10:56 remaining.