Literally, this is a fight to the finish
The Bulls lost Tuesday night the way either they or the Celtics were destined to.
No, it wasn't just that Brad Miller missed from the free-throw line with two seconds left in overtime, essentially giving Boston the victory.
It was more that the Bulls' center was bleeding from his mouth and would require stitches. He kept shaking his head as if to regain his faculties after being fouled across the face by Rajon Rondo while driving to the basket.
Bloody-nose lane, indeed.
"He was fine," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said of Miller. "He's a tough guy."
Yes, but this NBA East opening-rounder has been even tougher than Miller is.
The Celtics' 106-104 victory gave them a 3-2 lead in games in what has been a best-of-seven struggle.
This isn't a pro basketball playoff as much as it is a competition of attrition. Last able-bodied player advances to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Bulls entered Game 5 with Ben Gordon suffering from a left hamstring strain. John Salmons has been persevering on an ailing groin.
Most of the lead-up to the game concerned Gordon's availability, but he was on the court almost as much as the "TD Banknorth Garden" lettering at each baseline.
"I wasn't worried about Ben Gordon being hurt," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "I've seen that act before. He was terrific. He didn't look injured to me."
Then the Bulls ended the game with Miller spitting blood and Kirk Hinrich sporting a bandage over stitches he needed above his right eye.
The Bulls will get no sympathy from the Celtics over injuries. Kevin Garnett was ruled out of the playoffs before they started, and Leon Powe joined him on the sidelines early in the series.
At some point when we weren't looking, pro basketball became a strange mix of hockey, football and NASCAR.
Garnett, Manu Ginobili, Allen Iverson, Luol Deng, Tracy McGrady and Jameer Nelson are among the injured players who have missed the playoffs even though their teams qualified.
Then there are guys like Gordon, Salmons, Andrew Bynum and countless others who are playing at a reduced capacity.
My goodness, isn't basketball supposed to be a noncontact sport? No, not anymore, but it still shouldn't be a collision sport like football and basketball.
The NBA is beginning to suffer the same symptoms as the NFL and NHL: Checking injury lists, pressuring teammates to play hurt, players' commitment questioned when they sit out.
"It got real physical in there," said Pierce, who said he was kicked in the side of the leg.
Let's face it, neither the Bulls nor the Celtics are good enough to win the NBA title this season.
As entertaining as their series has been, it hasn't been well played. Each team is relying more on grit than skill and guts than execution.
They're limping toward the finish line - Game 6 is Thursday night in the United Center - and pounding on each other along the way.
"Now we have to go home and force a Game 7," Del Negro said.
That would be Saturday back in Boston, assuming enough players remain healthy enough to show up.
mimrem@dailyherald.com